Managing Skin Care During Menopause for a Healthy Glow

Menopause Skin Care

Menopause heralds a new stage in a woman’s life, accompanied by many changes throughout the body, including the skin. My patients often complain of hair loss, acne, sun spots, dry skin and itching in the premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal years. As ovarian function wanes, declining hormonal levels significantly impact skin health and appearance. Understanding the science behind these cutaneous changes can help design the perfect skin care routine for maturing skin during the menopausal transition. The key is to protect the skin from aging with the best menopause skin care.

I like to match my patient’s menopausal skin care routine to their Baumann Skin Type. I can d the same for you if you take the skin care routine quiz to find the best skin care products to treat your menopausal skin.

Menopause Skin Aging

Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstrual cycles, marking the end of fertility, and occurs naturally between ages 45-55 years as the ovaries stop producing eggs and estrogen/progesterone levels decline (2). Many skin changes occur during this time such as wrinkles, skin thinning, and loose, sagging skin. Skin aging increases during menopause.

Update your routine with menopause skin care by taking the quiz as soon as you start having insomnia, hot flashes and forgetfulness which are signs of menopause.

The skin type quiz will help you find build a menopause skin care routine.

Skin Signs of Menopause

Thin, Fragile Skin

Estrogen promotes types I and III collagen production in fibroblasts. During menopause, estrogen levels drop dramatically, slowing collagen synthesis. Studies demonstrate postmenopausal women lose 30% of skin collagen, mostly type I and III, within 5 years of beginning menopause (4,5). This thinning of the dermis leads to thin, fragile, wrinkled skin.

elastin decreases during menopause

Decreased Elasticity

Menopause is the time when skin begins to sag and lose firmness. Estrogen helps maintain elastin fibers that keep skin supple. With less estrogen, elastin breakdown occurs leading to sagging skin and jowls (6).

Dry Skin

Estrogen helps retain moisture in the epidermis. Declining estrogen causes skin dehydration due to increased transepidermal water loss (evaporation of water) from your skin. This is why you can get skin dryness and itching in menopause (5.7).

Pigmentation changes during menopause

Skin Pigmentation

Fluctuating melanocyte-stimulating hormones during menopause stimulate melanocytes to make melanin and can cause hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. (6) This is why you may develop dark spots or sun spots on the skin during menopause.

The good news is that unless you take estrogen replacement medication, melasma tends to get better during menopause because it can be caused or worsened by estrogen.

Acne

Acne breakouts are common as shifting hormones and an increase of androgens trigger acne. Menopausal acne often manifests as pimples and cysts along the chin and jawline.

The best treatment for hormonal acne in menopause is the prescription anti-androgen medication called Winlevi (Clascoterone). Using this hormone blocking cream along your jawline and chin in combination with a retinoid can help prevent menopausal acne cysts.

Hormonal changes that affect skin

Hormonal Changes that Affect Skin

Estrogen

Declining estrogen during menopause correlates with reduced collagen types I and IV in the dermis and basement membrane. This leads to thinning of the skin, wrinkles, and reduced structural integrity.

Estradiol therapy can increase transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), which upregulates collagen production. Estrogen also increases tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), reducing deleterious matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Overall, estrogen replacement increases collagen types I and III content, skin thickness, elasticity and moisture content (1,5,7).

Progesterone

Decreased progesterone during menopause is associated with reduced production of skin surface lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. This leads to a compromised lipid barrier and leads to dry skin on the face.

When combined with estrogen therapy, progesterone increases skin surface lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. This is thought to occur through stimulation of sebaceous gland activity and increased sebum production. One study found a 48% increase in skin surface lipids with replacement of progesterone plus estrogen versus estrogen alone (20,21).

Testosterone

Menopausal testosterone decline along with estrogen reduction leads to impaired stimulation of collagen production. Testosterone therapy combined with estrogen results in up to 48% higher skin collagen content compared to estrogen therapy alone. Testosterone is converted to estradiol via aromatase to activate estrogen receptors. However, testosterone combined with estrogen particularly increases type II collagen synthesis, which is not seen with estrogen alone (22,23)

Human Growth Hormone

Diminished HGH levels during menopause correlate with thinning of the dermis as cellular proliferation and extracellular matrix components are reduced. Supplementing with growth hormone can help increase skin thickness and collagen. (1)

Thyroid hormone

The active thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) increase mitochondrial activity, ATP production, and antioxidant enzymes in dermal fibroblasts. At the molecular level, they upregulate collagen types I and III gene transcription, helping to thicken aged skin (1).

Decreased thyroid hormones during menopause reduce mitochondrial activity and collagen production in fibroblasts. This leads to skin thinning and fragility. T3 and T4 supplementation can help stimulate fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis (1,29,30)

Caring for pre and post menopausal skin

Pre and Post Menopausal Skin Care

Whether you are in premenopause, menopause, or post menopause, your skin care routine matters. Below in the Menopause skin care section I will discuss what I tell my patients about skin care products to use in pre menopause, menopause and post menopause. Basically- all 3 stages of menopause need the same skin care routine which should be matched to your Baumann Skin Type.

Here are tips I give my patients for improving their skin in menopause. Note that hormone replacement is not for everyone and should be discussed with your doctor, especially if you have a history in your family or self of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer.

Caring for Dry Menopausal Skin:

Use cleansers for your skin type

Add antioxidants to diet

Use retinoids if right for your skin type

Use rich barrier repair moisturizers

Exfoliate 2-3 times a week

Apply broad spectrum sunscreen daily

Drink adequate water

Consider topical estrogen for severe dryness

Provide attentive care during this transition and be consistent with your skin care routine.

With this approach, menopausal skin can maintain a healthy, vibrant youthful glow and texture- but you must use the right products for your Baumann Skin Type. There is much more to treating menopausal skin than using moisturizers and sunscreen.

Menopause Skin Care for Face

Not all menopausal skin is dry so make sure you take the quiz to see if you are dry or oily. (Most people guess incorrectly) Once you know if you are considered dry or oily in the Baumann Skin Typing System, you should choose your cleanser by your skin type. The cleansers below may be good for your skin, but it is better to take the quiz and let us tell you exactly which cleansers to choose.

Cleansers

Cleansers can make a huge difference in menopausal skin by depositing fatty acids on the skin and exfoliating. But make sure you shop by your Baumann Skin Type.

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Eye Creams and Serums

Face Creams

The best face cream to use for menopause should have antiaging ingredients. The right one for you depends upon which Baumann Skin Type you are. I recommend the products below but take the skin type quiz to be certain before you buy.

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Serums for menopausal skin

Face Serums

Antioxidant serums such as Vitamin C serums and retinol serums are good for most skin types to help increase skin collagen lost during menopause. These may also help firm skin and prevent sagging.

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Masks for Menopause

Wild Yams are a natural source of estrogen. This vegan mask is a natural way to plump up and hydrate menopausal skin. It also has caffeine which is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and helps reduce any facial puffiness.

This antiaging mask also helps stabilize your skin’s microbiome.

Sunscreens

Menopause Skin Care For Body

Body Wash

Stay away from soaps, bubble baths, and very foaming body washes that strip lipids from the skin and injure the skin barrier. These can make menopausal skin even drier.

Instead choose creamy body washes and follow with an oil or body cream.

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Body Creams

When estrogen levels drop, you need a barrier repair body cream and a body oil to help replenish skin lipids.

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Menopause Supplements and Vitamins

Eating a healthy diet is so important when you are going through menopause. You can also look for antioxidant supplements with ingredients like green tea, polypodium leuctoomas, pomegranate, ascorbic acid, and resveratrol among many others.

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Every product that you use in your skin care routine is important. They interact with each other so your skin care routine step order and how you layer the products affects how well they absorb and how effective they are.

Let us help you find the best skin care brands to treat your menopausal skin. You will be able to combine products from different medical grade brands into the perfect perimenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal skin care routine.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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