It is estimated that almost half of women experience skin issues during menopause. Reduced production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and increased production of cortisol during this period are responsible for the inevitable skin changes that women face.
Some things we might notice:
- Dryness and Itching
- Delicate skin
- Acne
- Flushing
- Facial hair
- Melasma
- Facial changes
ohhhh, I had to look up melasma and ding ding ding, I have this too! Not sure when they popped up - in the last year or so. Blimey, it just goes on and on.
The startling one for me was the facial changes due to potential bone loss and thinning skin…like visible veins along the temples…ugh when did that happen???
The itching was insane before I started HRT, it’s a lot better now. My hair, however, has decided to get nice beachy waves? Not that I’m complaining!
I love being itchy and dry while having breakouts all at the same time. It’s great! Super awsome fun. 👍
Been thinking I’m perimenopausal for a few months now, and this thread was another clincher. My skin has become so dry and itchy. It’s awful!
Huh. That explains the sudden tendency to get back-of-the-hand eczema, and why putting a little OTC bi-est cream on the backs of my hands cleared it up better than cortisone cream did.
Before HRT, my skin was breaking out all month whilst simultaneously getting drier. Its now calmed down.
I had no idea this was another peri menopause issue … I was at the doctor about 7 years ago for itching on my legs that would keep me up at night, absolutely maddening, no one told me this could be hormone related. I get sad and angry every time I discover a new symptom I’ve had along the way with no explanation, just a med thrown at me, had I known it was hormone related and hormones were safe if taken correctly I think my quality of life would have been much better and I wouldn’t be in this predicament now…
My skin definitely changed. Have the cabinet full of products to prove it. Trying to get a new skin care routine together is getting frustrating!
Same! I’ve spent hundreds of dollars trying to find something that works and doesn’t aggravate my new rosacea diagnosis.
Have you tried products with azelaic acid or cica/centella asiatica?
Have you checked out Angie at Hot&Flashy? She’s a 60 year old youtuber (started her channel at the age of 50) and offers a pretty good skin care routine. It is a bit spendy to get all the products she uses/recommends to start, but they do last for months at a time.
Not sure why but I’m not really a fan of her. It might be the cost factor or maybe because I really like Korean/Japanese skin care products. My skin is drier now so it needs different things and I am working through my stash to see what I like best. CosRx propolis toner might be my new holy grail. My skin loves that stuff!
Fair enough. I started following Angie over 5 years ago, and I do a bit of a stripped down version of her skin care, and noticed better skin tone overall. I’m not focused on the anti-aging stuff, just protecting my skin from further sun damage.
Do you have any night cream reccomendations? I’m in Japan and finding that nothing seems to penetrate my withering skin now…
Not exactly. I found those types of creams were too heavy for me to use daily. I am using a sleep mask/sleep pack once or twice a week instead. I’m using Laneige (Korean brand) cica one and it’s really nice.
The game changer for me was adding hydrating products (hydrating attracts water to skin, moisturizing keeps it in.) I love love love asian toners and serums. Toners especially made a huge difference in my skin. I just pat in a few layers. CosRx full fit propolis toner is my favorite at the moment and it definitely changed my skin for the better. I have more to try but might not bother I like it so much.
Have you tried any toners/serums? I think they do the heavy lifting so your moisturizer doesn’t have to do it all alone.
I’ve been using toners that are lightweight and not that moisturizing, and heavy night creams. I think I need to change my skincare game…!
The CosRx toner looks nice! I may try it, thanks!
I have all of these skin issues now. Eczema, dry skin, hair loss, rosacea, acne, and the itching shit where you keep thinking there are bugs on you. If only these were the worst of my problems. :( Thanks for the validating article!
I have been history searching on the r/ menopause sub about skin issues but haven’t found anyone else describing my problem, so wondering if anyone else has experienced this: the skin where my underwear elastic sits is so irritated now by the pressure or pull of it that I am having a hard time comfortably wearing underwear. I’m trying to switch over to all-cotton bike shorts because it is driving me crazy! I have been wearing undersummers for a long while now for pj’s and under dresses for chub rub, but am feeling more like stretch cotton is the way to go. Anyone else? Product recommendations?
I get that someones too, I think it’s just more to do with the thinning of our skin, and losing that elasticity, so the simplest of things can cause big indents and ridges, and takes forever for the skin to bounce back. I often wear hats outside, and even though they are loose on my head, I always get deep ridges in my forehead of where the band rested. So annoying because it can take hours before the pattern goes away.
