This week, I am going to be talking about a life stage that is a rite of passage for many of us: Menopause.
Menopause is formally defined as “when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally”.
Menopause tends to occur between the ages of 45 and 55, as a woman’s estrogen levels decline, although around one in 100 women experience menopause before 40 years old.
As well as marking the end of menstruation, menopause brings a number of other changes to the body.
In a recent study, 79% of menopausal issues discussed were physiological, such as fatigue and hot flushes, while 21% were psychological, including insomnia and anxiety.
While your skin might not be your top concern with so many other things going on within your body at this time, menopause can take its toll on the skin, with 64% of women attending clinics reporting skin issues.
Despite skin changes making up just 6% of total menopause symptoms, these changes can often have a significant impact on confidence levels and self-esteem.
While we cannot stop these changes, we can minimise any discomfort in the skin with the help of some nerdie wisdom and tricks…
Oestrogen and progesterone levels decrease during menopause which causes dehydration as skin loses its ability to retain water, a loss in the production of collagen and dryness as sebaceous activity slows.
Increased inflammation can lead to itchiness and if you already have a skin condition, you may find that it worsens as skin gets more sensitive.
You may find you start getting acne, with body acne common due to hot flashes and night sweats.
Whether your skincare routine should change during menopause is dependent on your individual needs and reaction to fluctuations in hormones, but I always recommend starting with an inside, outside, and on top approach for optimal skin health.
This means lifestyle changes such as reassessing your diet and upping your water intake may be necessary. Learning techniques to manage stress and consuming less alcohol can also be beneficial in helping you to manage.
When it comes to diet, include fish and nuts to boost your complexion and wellbeing.
Sleep is crucial, so try to maintain a consistent sleeping pattern, practise good sleep hygiene, and try to make time for regular exercise.
If your diet preferences or lifestyle make it hard for you to get a balanced quota of vitamins, you could consider taking a supplement for extra nutritional support.
Dryness and dehydration are often listed as the top issues when it comes to menopausal skin, which can be blamed on decreasing hormone levels.
To mitigate this, I suggest looking for nourishing, soothing ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid to top up your moisture levels and keep dry patches at bay.
Thanks to hot flushes and night sweats, many people also begin experiencing breakouts.
Avoid reaching for harsh, stripping products and opt for barrier-friendly formulas containing 0.5% salicylic acid to unclog pores, remove excess oil and decongest the skin.
Avoid extra hot, lengthy periods in the baths and always apply moisturiser to comfort dry skin post soak.
Protect the skin with daily SPF and avoid scented products and further damage to the barrier by avoiding the use of harsh soaps that can aggravate dehydrated skin.
Instead look for anti-inflammatory ingredients like chamomile and aloe vera to calm angry, red skin.
Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb and can be used to boost collagen and estrogen, both of which you are likely to be lacking at this time.
It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for treating stressed or irritated skin.
Dermalogica Powerbright Dark Spot Serum (€109, dermalogica.ie) contains ashwagandha alongside shiitake mushrooms to help brighten lacklustre skin.
- Vichy Neovadiol Meno 5 Serum for Menopausal Skin (€49.45, lookfantastic.ie) has been created to support skin going through menopausal changes. Utilising active ingredients such as niacinamide and vitamins C and E, this balancing and vitality boosting formula works to address dullness, discoloration, loss of elasticity, dryness, and texture issues.
- Skingredients Skin Good Fats Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser (€55, skingredients.com) is often referred to as a hug in a tub, what many of us need at this time! This rich hydrator is a treat for thirsty complexions, containing skin-native ceramide NP to tackle dehydration and support skin barrier function.
- Korres White Pine Meno-Reverse Restorative Overnight
Facial (€66.45, lookfantastic.ie) incorporates the brand’s Meno-Reverse technology — a natural peptide blend derived from artichoke leaves which seeks to support the skin’s elasticity. This replenishing night serum-moisturiser also contains skin smoothing white pine, alongside shea butter and glycerin to restore the appearance of bounce and plumpness to collagen deprived skin. - No7 Menopause Skincare Firm and Bright Eye Concentrate (€34.99, boots.ie) was co-created with over 7,000 menopausal women. Containing a hydrating blend of lipids, niacinamide, and red clover, this targeted formula works to minimise the appearance of undereye bags and dark circles. It also has a metal roller-ball applicator, which feels heavenly when applied out of the fridge and helps to cool and refresh tired-looking eyes.
Flushing is reported by 75% of perimenopausal and menopausal women but Clarins SOS Primer SPF30 (€31, brownthomas.ie) in green is ideal for reducing redness and evening out the skin tone. Apply on to hydrated skin before any makeup for a smooth, radiant base.
