Skin Health for Women

Skin Health for Women

At Cosmetic Medicine Centre, we have many patients come to see us seeking help for skin changes that have occurred during perimenopause and post-menopause.

 

Perimenopause is when your menstrual period starts becoming irregular and occurs for an average of between 4 and 8 years before menopause, which officially begins 1-year after your last period.  Both cause changes to the levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone (hormones) in your body, resulting in undesirable skin changes.

 

The decline of estrogen leads to estrogen-deficient skin and is associated with a rapid reduction of collagen levels.  Collagen is the protein that gives the skin its firmness, plumpness, and strength.  Studies show that women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen in the first 5 years after menopause!  This can result in dryness, dullness, thinning, fine lines and wrinkling.

 

Fluctuations in hormone levels can also affect pigment production, leading to an increase in skin hyperpigmentation, such as age spots and melasma.

 

Both peri and post-menopause are inevitable, but thankfully there are things that you can do to help your skin feel and look healthy.

 

We asked leading cosmetic medicine practitioner Dr Mary Dingley for her advice.

 

What are the most common complaints you receive from women about their skin when it comes to peri and post-menopause?

Most women will begin by saying their skin is “just not the same” and then describe vague dullness, dryness and feel it is getting thinner and crepier with an increased tendency to sag. They will often pinch it up & let it go and say it just feels different.

 

What do you most often recommend to address these complaints?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be considered by some, but not all, women and may be discussed with patients’ GP or specialists.

Specific skin care may be considered even if HRT is not recommended. A range of skin care called Emepelle contains oestrogen analogues which can trigger oestrogen receptors in the skin without affecting other areas of the body. There are also  treatments that can improve the hydration of the skin as well as its elasticity and support.

 

Are there any lifestyle modifications you can suggest?

Solar damage is cumulative throughout one’s lifespan, so it is imperative to continue sun protection. It is however, important to maintain activity and exercise for the benefit of bones, overall weight and metabolism, general and mental health. Core strength and improved metabolic rate can also be enhanced with treatments such as truSculpt Flex with which can greatly improve muscles without risking joints or injuries.

Eating well, but not excessively, becomes more important as we age.

 

What are the top skincare products you recommend for women during peri and post-menopause?

Emepelle is a range which is specifically geared for this group. Certainly, a vitamin A at night and vitamin C in the morning would be advised. There are also some which help with DNA repair due to solar, or other damage.

 

Do you have any other advice for looking after peri and post-menopausal skin?

It is easier to maintain a healthy skin as we pass through menopause than it is to start to correct a lifetime of skin abuse. By starting early to look after ourselves and our skins by avoiding smoking, protecting ourselves from the sun and perhaps considering such treatments as regular Broad Band Light (BBL) treatments we can start from a privileged platform from which to work.

 

To schedule a consultation at Cosmetic Medicine Centre, contact our friendly team.