Menopause can cause various skin changes and problems due to declining estrogen levels. As estrogen declines during perimenopause and after menopause, skin becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic and supple. Common skin issues that may occur include:
- Dryness - Lack of estrogen causes skin to lose moisture. This often results in itchy, flaking, scaly skin. Dryness is most common on the face, arms, legs, and abdomen.
- Thinning - With less estrogen, skin becomes thinner and may wrinkle or sag more easily. Wrinkles may be especially noticeable around the eyes, mouth, neck, décolleté, hands, and forearms.
- Loss of elasticity - Estrogen helps keep skin firm and flexible. Reduced levels lead to loss of elasticity, tone, and resilience. Skin is slower to “bounce back” and show plumpness.
- Increased facial hair - Lower estrogen unveils higher androgens, often resulting in dark, coarse hairs on the face, especially the upper lip and chin area.
Some other skin frustrations related to menopause include:
- Itchiness
- Rashes
- Acne breakouts
- Slow wound healing
- Bruising easily
- Sun sensitivity
- Cherry angiomas (small skin growths caused by dilated blood vessels)
- Skin tags
- Variation in skin pigmentation
A few tips to help manage menopausal skin issues:
- Stay well hydrated
- Use gentle cleansers
- Apply thick, rich moisturizers
- Exfoliate regularly to slough off dead skin
- Use a retinol product to encourage collagen production
- Always wear SPF 30 or higher sunscreen
At Harmony Hormone Clinic, our experienced medical providers offer comprehensive hormone balancing programs to help women manage troublesome symptoms like skin changes. We provide customized bioidentical hormone therapy, nutrition support, and lifestyle guidance. Rebalance your hormones and rediscover glowing, youthful skin!
Here is a useful table summarizing some key takeaways about skin issues in menopause:
| Skin Change | Cause | Tips |
|-|-|-|
| Dryness | Declining estrogen | Hydrate and moisturize |
| Thinning | Less collagen | Use retinol |
| Loss of elasticity |
Estrogen deficiency | Protect skin from sun |
| Increased facial hair | Androgen exposure | Laser hair removal |
In summary,
fluctuating and falling hormones during perimenopause and menopause frequently create skin frustrations like dryness, wrinkles, irritation, and hair growth. Supporting hormonal balance and taking special care of skin texture and moisture can help minimize unwanted changes. Ask your healthcare provider about options such as topical estrogen creams or bioidentical hormones along with over-the-counter skin care products.
