How menopause affects the skin

By Dr. Shirin Lakhani

Everything you need to know about what happens to your skin when menopause hits - and why losing oestrogen speeds up the ageing process for women faster than men.

Leading women’s health expert Dr. Shirin Lakhani explains everything you need to know about your menopause face - and the myriad of treatments available:

While it’s a life chapter to, rightly, be celebrated, menopause can bring with it several unwelcome symptoms! What’s more, menopause can bring about some unwelcome changes to our face and skin, including a drooping nose, thin lips, and hair loss. Who knew?

On average, women enter menopause aged 51 - meaning that most women live for about 30 years into this postmenopausal period and can spend up to a third of their life post-menopausal. As we know symptoms can start approximately 10 years before menopause when a woman is in her late 30s and early 40s. This stage is known as perimenopause, when levels of oestrogen, a key female hormone, start to decrease. But besides the other prevalent physiological changes like fatigue and hot flushes, your face can completely change shape as you hit this chapter, your skin can change texture and type, and even your hair and eyes can be affected too.

SYMPTOM: SAGGING SKIN

The acceleration of the ageing process is thought to be related to the loss of the hormone oestrogen following menopause. It has widespread effects on the protein collagen, which gives skin its elasticity. It also causes bone to be reabsorbed, resulting in less defined cheekbones and a shrinking of the chin. Wrinkles aren’t the only issue associated with the loss of collagen in your skin – drooping, sagging skin is, too. Without the support of collagen and the springiness of elastin, your skin begins to ‘hang’, and in certain areas of your face and body, this can look more obvious. Under your eyes as eye bags, under your chin as jowls and under your arms as bingo wings – these areas suffer the most with skin laxity.

SOLUTION:

•Fractora is a radiofrequency (RF) micro-needling treatment, which delivers smooth, tighter, more even skin. Fractora uses needles to a consistent depth and its energy is more concentrated on a specific area and is minimally invasive, with most patients feeling little to no discomfort during treatment. Skin that has lost its elasticity can look textured and ‘crepey’ and your neck and décolletage tend to show this the most. If you’re fed up with hiding your neck beneath a scarf, Fractora can restore your skin’s stretchiness, so you don’t need to feel anxious about showing your neck. • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is an advanced cosmetic technology that can significantly tighten and lift several areas of the face. It also reduces signs of ageing and improves the tone of the skin.

•Thread-lifts are also a minimally invasive way to improve your appearance. A thread lift is a non-surgical facelift in which the facial skin is lifted and tightened.

SYMPTOM: DRY SKIN

From the onset of menopause, oestrogen levels in a woman’s body drop. These oestrogen hormones play a significant role in holding off the signs of ageing and preserving your skin’s youthful quality. In menopause, oil production slows down and skin loses some ability to hold water, so skin can get quite dry. Boost your intake of vitamins and minerals.

Once medical causes for dry hair and skin have been ruled out, a few simple changes can often help relieve the dryness. Getting adequate levels of nutrients through a well-balanced diet and a multivitamin (or supplements that are approved by your doctor) may just give your body the boost it needs to get your hair and skin back on track.

Use skin products containing vitamins A and C

These active ingredients can improve skin due to their antioxidant effects, while creams with collagen (a naturally occurring substance that keeps skin firm) may help keep skin youthful-looking. Look at in-clinic treatments

Ageing skin can lose its structural proteins (collagen and elastin), which causes it to begin to sag and become lax, therefore contributing to a tired and aged look, explains Dr Lakhani. Ellansé works differently and naturally. Thanks to its unique properties, it not only corrects wrinkles and folds but also stimulates collagen production to treat the underlying causes of facial ageing. The effects are gradual and long-lasting giving you a naturally youthful appearance.

SYMPTOM: PIGMENTATION

During menopause, some women experience more pigmentation on their face, called melasma, which is pigmentation on the cheeks, upper lip and forehead. This is caused by a combination of hormonal changes and sun exposure.

Retinol is a powerful addition to a skincare regime as, not only does it speed up cell turnover, it penetrates deep into the skin and interferes with pigment production, so it can treat dark spots that aren’t just on the surface level.

Treatments - There are a number of melasma and hyperpigmentation treatments available. I would advise pigmentation peels and some laser skin resurfacing treatments can help to gradually fade hyperpigmentation.

SYMPTOM: ELONGATED NOSE

The ageing process can cause drooping of the nasal tip and in turn its inward movement toward the face. The process often results in the formation of a hump on the bridge of the nose and the general sinking of the nasal tip also creates the illusion that the nose is longer than it actually is.

SOLUTION:

Non-surgical filler - It is now possible to use dermal fillers to correct a droopy tip and help lift it up. Make sure that you do your research and choose a reputable practitioner with the relevant knowledge of the anatomy. While dermal fillers are classed as non-surgical, they also come with risks such as blindness and skin necrosis if not carried out correctly and safely.

SYMPTOM: HAIR LOSS

Hormones can have a direct effect on a number of health and beauty issues including weight gain and adult acne. However, they also play a vital part in regulating the hair growth cycle. If a person has an excess of androgens (male hormones) which is often caused by conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, this can shorten the hair growth cycle and can result in hair loss. And menopause sees hormone changes that can have a big impact too. Unfortunately, as we age, hair loss can become more prevalent - especially in the lead up to and directly after menopause. NHS England estimates that 50% of people over 65 will experience hair loss. And while this is a completely normal part of the ageing process, there are several things that you can do.

SOLUTION:

Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT or BHRT) can slow down or even stop hair loss in some women. Speak to your doctor about hormone therapy if hair loss is bothering you. Nonhormonal options, including PRP treatments and LED light therapy, and supplements such as Viviscal Pro can be beneficial.

SYMPTOM: EYE PROBLEMS

Dry eyes are a common symptom of menopause, as low levels of oestrogen and progesterone cause glandular changes. After menopause, some women report chronically dry and scratchy eyes, often along with light sensitivity, blurred vision, increased tearing, or swollen or reddened eyelids - a condition called chronic dry eye syndrome. Also, dark circles under the eyes can become more prevalent during menopause as a result of hyperpigmentation.

SOLUTION:

Try to address the things which may be aggravating the eyes such as air conditioning, pollen or extensive periods looking at a screen. It’s also important to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. If symptoms persist, HRT can help address the hormone changes that are causing it. Topical creams are good for dehydration & allergy relief, but they will not restore volume. They will not cause the blood vessels under the eyes to constrict, nor will they reverse a family history of dark circles. There is a prescription-only treatment that will help reduce the production of melanin in the skin and can be a useful tool in improving the appearance of dark circles, however, it has to be used under the guidance of a specialist only. I would also recommend lubricating eye drops for dry eyes and, for dark circles, dermal fillers can replace lost volume.

SYMPTOM: THIN LIPS

A lot of patients often say that they feel as if their ‘lips have disappeared as a result of the menopause’ and this, in turn, makes them feel as if they have aged dramatically. As the collagen in our body decreases, we notice that places like our lips start to visibly lose their volume and we see wrinkles and lines around the mouth.

SOLUTION

Lip fillers - Using a small amount of dermal lip filler we can very naturally plump the lips, smooth lines and replace lost volume, leaving patients with a very natural look and recreating the look that they had before.

LIVING HORMONEOUSLY BY Dee Murray Book Signing September 2022

I am thrilled to announce the date for my book launch on behalf of Menopause Experts Group Limited.

This hardback, robust book is the perfect coffee or bedside table accompaniment to open up conversations, and also aid all those amazing companies who are supporting women in the workplace. It would be lovely to think it will sit in households and workplaces to remind women they are not alone. This book is designed to help both women and men understand what the female body is doing as it moves into post-reproductive mode and why! How to understand our psychology and emotions better during this time, and delve deeper into the holistic way to better manage menopause. We also walk you through the clinical interventions available like HRT.

You can pre-order yours here today, and a small percentage of our profits from the sales will go to Wellbeing of Women a charity close to my heart.

PRE-ORDER CLICK HERE Book LAUNCH

Coffee Table Hardback £27.99

A percentage of sales will be donated to