Perimenopause & Menopause: what we haven’t been told

Menopause is a natural process that occurs in women typically around the age of 50. It is marked by the cessation of menstrual periods and a decline in hormone production, particularly Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone.  Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause, during which hormone levels fluctuate and menstrual cycles may become irregular. While this is a normal phase of life, it can bring about various changes in the body, including changes in the skin.

Several studies have examined the effects of menopause on skin and ageing. Menopause and the years leading up to menopause also marks a decrease in skin collagen and loss of facial fat. Studies show that we lose about 30% of our collagen during the first five years of menopause; then about 2% every year for the next 20 years.  We need collagen for dewy, glowy, plump skin.  With the diminishing levels of hormones, we loss facial fullness, skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and more prone to wrinkling and sagging.  Unfortunately, that is not where it ends.  Menopause and perimenopause also leads to an increase in skin dryness, itching, and skin sensitivity.  Pigmentary changes can occur on skin, there can be an increase in broken capillaries or aggravation of skin conditions and that’s just on our skin!

While menopause-related skin changes are inevitable if we are lucky to get there, there are steps that women can take to mitigate their effects. These include:

1. Protecting skin from the sun: Regular use of sunscreen can help prevent sun damage and skin ageing. SPF is your BFF for now but also for your future skin.
2. Staying hydrated: Drinking plenty of water and using a moisturiser can help counteract dryness and skin sensitivity.
3. Skincare: Find products rich in hydration, antioxidants and collagen boosters like retinoids.
4. Maintaining a healthy diet: Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, can help protect skin from environmental damage.
5. Exercising regularly: Regular exercise can improve circulation and skin health.
6. Consulting our team to Collagen build. We can recommend specific skincare products or treatments to boost collagen production while we are still in our collagen production prime. What are our favourites? Chemical peels, light or laser therapy & Morpheus8 to name a few!

During the perimenopausal and menopausal years, the body’s production of collagen and elastin decreases, which can lead to thinning, sagging, and wrinkling of the skin. Combine that with years of photo-ageing, and you can see that we need a little TLC for ourselves to be the best version of ourselves in our prime.

Fortunately, there are several non-invasive in-office treatments that can help promote the production of collagen and elastin, such as:

1. PRP: Platelet Rich Plasma is an autologous way to harness the body’s regenerative power to promote collagen and elastin production.
2. Laser therapy: Certain laser treatments can help promote collagen production by heating up the skin and stimulating the body’s natural healing response. These can range from non ablative to ablative lasers
3. Radio frequency coupled with microneedling: This treatment device uses tiny needles to create small punctures in the skin with radio frequency energy to heat up the deep layers of the skin to promote the production of collagen and elastin.
4. Ultrasound therapy: Ultrasound treatments can help stimulate collagen production by using high-frequency sound waves to delivery heat beneath the skins surface to bolster the body’s natural healing response.
5. Chemical peels: Certain types of chemical peels can help promote the production of collagen and elastin by removing the outer layers of dead skin cells and stimulating the growth of new, healthy skin.

Skin type and concern vary so much.  Book for our complimentary Visia scan to assess and discuss issues and create a bespoke treatment plan for you.