WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAUSES OF SKIN CHANGES DURING THIS TIME & OFFER SUGGESTIONS OF PRODUCTS TO HELP GET YOU THROUGH.
Menopause affects women’s bodies in myriad ways both internally (presenting as symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, insomnia and heart palpitations) and externally, with a number of visible changes occurring in the skin. In fact, according to the International Dermal Institute, around 85 percent of women have menopausal symptoms both before and after they reach it, but of course, the severity of the symptoms will vary from person to person.
Hormonal changes, such as the reduction of estrogen and progesterone, are the main culprits in the changes women can begin to notice visually as they go through menopause. Because external changes in the body are often the hardest for us to deal with emotionally, we’ve focused here on what you can expect and offer suggestions of some of our favourite products to help deal with the symptom in a safe, clean and effective way.
SAGGING SKIN & MORE NOTICEABLE WRINKLES
The estrogen hormone stimulates fat deposits and as these levels drop, fat can become redistributed towards the abdomen, thighs and buttocks, resulting in a loss of supportive fat below the skin of the face, neck, breasts, hands and arms. This is why you may begin to notice your skin appearing to sag in these areas and wrinkles becoming more prevalent.
SUN SENSITIVITY
Collagen and elastin production also decrease during this time, which means your skin has less ability to repair and regenerate, and telltale signs of ageing may appear. Take extra care with your sun exposure as UV rays are very destructive to collagen, especially while your body is going through these changes. As menopause progresses, the number of melanocytes (cells that manufacture the pigment melanin) reduce which can cause the skin to appear lighter and become more prone to sun damage. Cover up during the hottest parts of the day and always remember to apply sunscreen first thing in the morning and reapply throughout the day.
HYPERPIGMENTATION
With the reduction in melanin production, areas that have previously been exposed to and damaged by UV rays may experience an increase in melanin synthesis. This is due to the loss of estrogen which, in younger skin, regulates and tempers the production of melanin. Without the ability of estrogen to control melanin synthesis, it can concentrate in these areas causing hyperpigmentation or brown ‘age spots’ on areas such as the face, hands, neck, arms and chest.
WATER LOSS & DRY SKIN
If your skin is feeling thin, parched and dry, it’s all thanks to the reduction in blood flow through the dermal capillaries, along with less nutrients and oxygen being delivered to the Stratum Germinativum (the layer of skin closest to the blood supply underneath the epidermis) and Basal Cell (the innermost layer of skin which contains the melanocytes) layers of the epidermis. You may notice a reduction in skin barrier function which can cause dryness and sensitivity and a loss of that more youthful plump look to the skin.
Our Skin Collagen Support supplements are a quick and easy was to help with sagging skin and wrinkles.
Cover up over the summer months with Coola Classic Face SPF 50 White Tea Sunscreen
Battle hyperpigmentation with our best-selling Biologi Bm Regeneration Anti-Aging Serum
OILY SKIN
On the flipside, many women may start to experience oiler skin than normal, which is due to estrogen levels taking a dive, allowing testosterone to stimulate the sebaceous glands. This thicker sebum can also lead to the appearance of adult acne in some women.
HOT FLASHES
Perceived by many to be the most telltale sign of menopause, hot flashes are felt mainly in the face and are often followed by excessive sweating. According to the International Dermal Institute, these flashes occur because a woman’s sympathetic nervous system is more active after menopause due to low estrogen, which causes the dilation of skin arterioles and sweating, as well as an increase in body temperature and rise in heart rate.
On the flipside, many women may start to experience oiler skin than normal, which is due to estrogen levels taking a dive, allowing testosterone to stimulate the sebaceous glands. This thicker sebum can also lead to the appearance of adult acne in some women.
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Lastly, remember that we’ve done a lot of the hard work and investigation for you, so you can be assured that all the products we sell on margot.co.nz meet our strict clean beauty standards. Our Instagram DMs and email are always open, so please feel free to get in touch with your questions at [email protected]!
