Falling estrogen levels associated with perimenopause and menopause cause a range of physical symptoms. Most women are familiar with hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats that occur during this time, but less well-known are the skincare challenges related to hormonal imbalances. In addition to hormone replacement therapy at our Houston med spa, treatments targeting specific skin conditions can also help.
From a resurgence of acne reminiscent of teenage years to wrinkles that seem to develop overnight, these changes require women to adapt their skincare routines and consider new approaches to treatment to keep skin looking healthy and youthful. In this blog post, we’ll outline 6 specific changes that happen to the skin during menopause and recommend skin rejuvenation treatment plans for each one.
Why Does Your Skin Change During Menopause?
Skin goes through changes throughout your life, especially starting in your late 20s when the body’s production of collagen starts to slow. Collagen and elastin are the building blocks of smooth, tight skin. This process accelerates when a woman enters menopause and estrogen levels begin to fall rapidly. The production of collagen suffers a steep decline at this point. Additionally, estrogen promotes water retention and plumpness in the skin. As estrogen levels drop, the skin becomes more dehydrated.
Here is a look at some specific skin changes that occur during menopause:
Sagging and Lost Volume
Collagen is a protein that helps hold the body’s tissues together. As the amount of collagen drops, the skin starts sagging and loses its youthful volume and elasticity. Some people try to counter this development with collagen supplements or eating foods rich in collagen, but these strategies aren’t very effective. Cosmetic injectables are popular ways to address lost volume and sagging skin. These include dermal fillers such as the Restylane® product family.
There are multiple med spa treatments designed to stimulate the production of new collagen, including microneedling combined with radiofrequency, laser skin treatments such as Halo™, and other skin-tightening procedures. Cosmetic injectables, including dermal fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic, at our Houston practice can also restore volume and help your skin look firmer or tighter.
Dryness & Flakiness
As mentioned above, estrogen is important for water retention, and the lower levels lead to the skin drying out. That, in turn, results in the skin becoming flakier and itchy. Managing skin dryness with a daily skincare regimen that includes medical-grade skincare products is very effective.
Specific steps to take each day include:
- Cleanse skin gently
- Moisturize
- Take warm, not hot, showers
It’s important to avoid using products with irritating ingredients, which will only exacerbate the problem of dry skin.
Age Spots
These annoying dark spots, also called liver spots or sun spots, appear during or after menopause and are difficult to treat with home remedies. Prescription creams that include retinoids can help but often aren’t enough to effectively fade age spots.
Instead, we recommend treatments tailored to a patient’s specific skin type and goals. These can include:
Each of these options not only fades dark spots but also results in skin that is brighter and refreshed.
Acne
Experiencing acne breakouts in your 50s is frustrating for women whose complexion remained clear throughout most of their adult lives. Unfortunately, acne is another skin condition caused by declining estrogen levels. You should resist the urge to find the strongest anti-acne medicine to rid yourself of these pimples. The harsh ingredients will only dry out the skin. Instead, gentle cleansers containing salicylic acid or a pore-cleansing treatment like DiamondGlow™ often help prevent breakouts.
Thinning Skin
Falling estrogen levels also result in the skin becoming thinner during menopause. Menopausal women tend to bruise easily and are more prone to getting minor cuts. The crepey appearance of the skin may be most noticeable under the eyes, where the skin is naturally delicate. Hormone replacement therapy helps reverse this effect by restoring hormonal balance. Topical ointments and creams can help improve the thickness of thinning skin to varying degrees. Products that include glycolic acid can be effective. Med spa treatments like HydraFacial® that remove dead skin cells and reveal healthier skin beneath is another strategy.
Scheduling periodic skin rejuvenation and maintenance treatments at Ovation Med Spa® in Houston, TX, is an excellent complement to hormone replacement therapy for menopausal or post-menopausal women. Our med spa offers a range of treatment options that is virtually unmatched in the Houston area, so our specialists can customize your skin rejuvenation treatment plan.
Get Started
If you want to learn more about hormone replacement therapy and our menu of skin rejuvenation treatments, [consultation]request a consultation[/consultation] using the online form or call us at [phone] to schedule an appointment.