How does the
menopause affect the skin?
Menopause is an incredibly complicated process that all
women endures they reach middle age. For some, symptoms appear to be mere end
to the monthly cycle. For others, it is a difficult process that can last a few
years and cause a variety of changes.
Menopause not only affects the internal body, it affects the
skin as well.
Menopause and the
skin.
The hormonal changes that occur during and after menopause
tend to change the skins physiology in new and different ways.
The decline of B-estradiol during menopause is culprits in
the accelerated aging of the skin .We also know that menopause is mostly caused
by age related changes in the ovaries, and the number of follicles remaining in
the ovaries of menopausal women is significantly reduced. In addition, the
follicles those remain become less sensitive to simulation by pituitary
hormones, even though their levels are elevated, resulting in fewer mature
follicles and a reduction in the production of corpora lutea. This results in
lowered estrogen and progesterone production, which in turn leads to changes on
the skin.
As a woman gets closer to menopause, the following changes
begin to occur in the skin.
Oily skin:
During your reproductive years, B-estradiol stimulates more
sebaceous gland secretion (anti-acne effect) As the estrogen levels decrease and
testosterone is no longer masked in the women’s body. Testosterone reveals
itself by stimulating sebaceous glands to secrete thicker sebum, giving the
appearance of oily skin and tendency to adult acne.
Facial hair
Also due to the unmasking of testosterone, some women may develop
facial hair, particularly in the chin area.
Sagging skin and wrinkles
Estogens stimulate fat deposits over the female body, as
estrogen levels drop during the menopause, fat deposits tend to become
redistributed and often concentrated over the abdomen and the thighs and buttocks.
The result is a loss of supportive fat below the skin of the face, neck, hands and
arms; this allows sagging wrinkles to appear.
Thinning epidermis (outer
layers of skin)
The growth and maintenance of blood capillaries in the
dermis are partially under the control of the estrogens. Thus blood flowing
through the dermal capillaries is reduced during menopause, and; essential nutrients
and oxygen are available to the layers of the epidermis. This leads to a
reduction in barrier function, leading to dry/dehydrated skin.
Prone to Sun damage
The maintenance of melanocytes (cells that manufacture the
pigment melanin)
Is under the control
of estogens. As menopause progresses, the number of melanocytes in the in the
skin is reduced (they degenerate). With less melanocyte, we produce less of the
protective melanin and skin appears lighter. Menopausal l skin is, therefore,
more prone to sun damage, making it even more important to protect the skin
with a sunblock.
Hyperpigmentation/
age spots
Estogens also temper melanin production. That is estrogen,
exerts a regulatory effect on the production of melanin, it keeps it under
control in areas of the skin that have been exposed to uv rays over the years As melanin increases, this can resulting brown
‘age spots’ appearing on the face, hands, neck , arms and chest of many women.
Hot flushes
Hot flushes are defined by a strong warmth in the skin
(mainly the face), followed by excessive sweating. It causes dilation of the
skin arterioles and sweating.
Treating menopausal
skin
Your skin care therapist will help you through this
difficult time recommending a professional regimen at home to adapt to your
changing skin. Regular Dermalogica facials can help further boost your skin
care and also help promote relaxation, thus helping to calm your hormones. Also
seeing Rudi henry for acupuncture can help alleviate menopausal symptoms.