Hello gorgeous creatures, did you know that October is Menopause Awareness Month? I love that there is a month dedicated to educating people about menopause and its effects, after all, it affects 50% of the population! I believe it is super important to have a good understanding of menopause and to get rid of the ‘taboo’ views around it that are so outdated. This is why this month’s blog is dedicated to discussing menopause and giving you tips on how to combat the effects it can have on your skin.
What is menopause?
It is a stage of life that the majority of women will experience and will typically begin in their early 50s. The word menopause is the first year that you have no periods. Once a woman reaches menopause the ovaries stop producing hormones, which is why we have hormonal imbalances and in turn experience a whole myriad of symptoms, some of which can include skin issues.
Skin changes
Now I don’t want you to worry, skin changes during menopause are very common, so know you are not alone. You may notice that before and during this time, your skin may feel a little dry and thin, or you may begin to see more lines and wrinkles, and some people may even experience acne during menopause, which is a result of the hormonal fluctuations.
Studies have shown that a woman’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. This can feel a little scary, but there are ways to combat this and to give your skin a little boost during this time and I will be sharing these with you here.
The most common skin changes reported during menopause are;
- General ageing of skin, such as wrinkles and reduction in elasticity.
- Skin dryness and itching.
- Acne – menopausal breakouts.
- Increased skin sensitivity.
- Redness associated with hot flushes.
- Rosacea – a condition that can cause face flushing, spots and skin tightness.
How to combat these skin changes
Don’t fret, it’s not all doom and gloom, there are ways that you can combat some of these symptoms and effects on your skin and still radiate and maintain your glow (not from the hot flushes).
Some of the best ways to combat effects on your skin are;
- Hydration – ensure your skin is kept hydrated. Drink plenty of water and use skincare with a high moisturising factor to it.
- Use Retinoids – high in vitamin A it helps boost that oh so important collagen production (which is what you lose during menopause).
- Vitamin C – products high in vitamin C will brighten your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Hyaluronic Acid – use products with this in as it helps lock moisture into your skin and gives it that plump appearance.
- Ceramides – these help to prevent dryness and strengthen the skin’s barrier.
- SPF – using a good SPF all year round will help protect the skin from UV damage and help prevent any further damage.
If you would like recommendations on specific products to help combat menopause affects on your skin, book a consultation.
Recommended Treatment
I am so delighted to be sharing this new treatment with you that has been specially formulated for perimenopausal and menopausal skin.
The Alumier MenoPeel Chemical Peel. This bespoke treatment from Alumier MD is designed to target dryness, lack of firmness, elasticity, collagen breakdown, loss of radiance, fine lines, uneven skin tone, hormonal outbreaks and reduce the appearance of large pores.
The Menopausal Peel contains Salicylic acid and Lactic acid which provides excellent pore penetration and exfoliation. Salicylic acid penetrates the pores and exfoliates dead skin cells and excess sebum. The lactic acid not only exfoliates dead skin cells, but it hydrates the skin too. Together, they work to smooth skin, hydrate skin and minimise pore size. If suitable a potent and pure retinol and lactic acid resurfacing treatment will be added to the peel, which will help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation by boosting collagen production and speeding cell turnover, creating a more radiant and even-toned complexion. Ideal for mature skin.
Love the sound of this and ready to get your glow back, book in this treatment with me today.
