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About Skin Changes During Menopause

Typically, menopause does not happen to a young woman. The average age of menopause is 51, give or take a few years. So a menopausal woman is usually middle aged and so is her skin. The loss of estrogen is a fact of life for menopausal women and this can have an impact on skin. Now is the time to start moisturizing if you haven't already.

  1. The Process

    • As we age, our skin becomes thinner and more delicate and fragile, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some elderly people have nearly transparent skin and you can clearly see the veins underneath. In our younger years, estrogen helps us maintain healthy hair and skin.

      When estrogen, which is a hormone, becomes deficient during menopause, we quit manufacturing the natural oils that we once did and which kept our skin lubricated and supple. Age spots, which are also called liver spots, may start to pop up. The Cleveland Clinic notes that skin will become drier and less elastic during this period of a woman's life and the skin is more likely to wrinkle because of these factors.

    Estrogen, Collagen and Elastin

    • When our estrogen supply diminishes, this causes our skin to sag. In addition to an estrogen deficiency, we no longer produce the collagen and elastin in necessary amounts when we become menopausal. Elastin and collagen are the supportive and elastic proteins that keep our skin firm and toned. You may notice that your skin isn't healing as quickly from an injury as it used to and you may find that you bruise easier. This is because our skin is no longer as resilient as it once was.

    Pores

    • The pores on our face actually get bigger as we age because we lose the elasticity in our skin. If your pores are full of debris, such as blackheads, this also causes the pores to expand. It's important to make an extra effort to keep skin clean.

    Th Cushion is Gone

    • When a woman is in her menopausal years, she will have lost some of that fatty cushion underneath the skin which kept it looking plump during her younger years. In addition, skin becomes drier because we don't produce as much oil. This oil is called sebum. We also stop producing as many melanocytes, which makes us more vulnerable and sensitive to the sun and its damaging rays. Melanocytes provided us with ultra-violet radiation protection when we were younger.

    Keep Hydrated and Moisturize

    • Menopauseatoz.com notes that other skin issues may pop up during menopause, including the appearance of tiny veins. However, skin problems will vary from woman to woman because no one has the identical experience during menopause. Drinking lots of water and hydrating yourself from the inside out will help keep skin moisturized. Routinely applying a moisturizer to the skin is also a must.

    Do What You Can

    • Gravity takes its toll as we age. Genetics also plays a role in how well skin stands the test of time. So do what you can to protect your skin. Eat right, take a daily vitamin, exercise, protect your skin from the sun and invest in some good skin cream.

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