Amelie March Blog

As a Dermatologist, this is the advice I would give my Mum for Mothers Day

What are the main effects / symptoms our mothers will suffer from skin-wise?

1) Studies show that collagen levels reduce by as much as 30% in the first 5 years of menopause due to a reduction in oestrogen levels which leads to sagging and thinning of the skin.

2) With age there is also a reduction of sebum, hyaluronic acid and ceramides which result in drier skin. Dry skin can lead to itch and a feeling of tingling or other unusual sensations.

3) Furthermore, it can take longer for small wounds and cuts to heal as oestrogen in premenopausal women plays a role in wound healing.

4) After the menopause, there is also accelerated loss of bone in jaw and chin which leads to jowling.

5) Another change seen in the skin due to lower levels of estrogen is a decline in melanin regulation, making the skin more prone to photodamage.

Estrogen is not the only hormone playing a role. Progesterone is also thought to play a role in preventing collagen breakdown (progesterone has an inhibitory effect on tissue degrading MMPs) and when levels drop in perimenopause, this can lead to loss of firmness of the skin. Some women experience increase in testosterone levels in menopause, resulting in acne.

What are the main treatments / topical products / lifestyle tweaks to get our mothers’ skin back to life?

1. Any treatments improving skin hydration; from topicals (containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramide) to injectable moisturizers such as profhilo.
2. Any treatment that can help to build collagen; from retinoid-containing creams to collagen induction procedures such as microneedling/morpheus8…
3. Treatments that help with pigmentary changes; from topicals (containing hydroquinone and non-prescription brightening ingredients) to procedures such as IPL/BBL.
4. The role of sunscreen remains all important! Choose for a hydrating sunscreen!
5. Obviously healthy lifestyle. If your skin is very dry and the right creams do not hydrate you enough, think of reducing your alcohol consumption as alcohol aggravates dry skin. And a beauty sleep isn’t called a beauty sleep for no reason!
6. Last but not least, it might be worth considering bio-identical hormonal replacement therapy as they will address the hormonal imbalances leading to these skin changes.