what impact on the skin?

No, menopause isn't all about stopping your period, hot flashes and other irritable moments. With the cessation of ovulation and cycles, many other phenomena are felt, both inside and outside the body. While the woman is fertile, her cycles are a succession of phases in which the body secretes in turn, either estrogen or progesterone. At the time of pre-menopause, of peri-menopause, then when menopause is established definitively, the mechanics derail a little.

But rest assured, this is absolutely not inevitable and it is quite possible to counter the aging of the skin! First, remember that you are not alone and that nearly 10 million women share the same problems as yours (the average age of menopause is 51). Then, know that today, the effects of menopause on the skin are particularly taken into account by cosmetic research laboratories, which compete for originality to offer effective care and which restore true skin comfort.

Significant skin changes

We have seen that with menopause, the body's production of estrogen drops dramatically, which has a noticeable impact on the skin, both on the surface and deep down. Indeed, this hormone plays an essential role in the quality of the skin, because each skin cell membrane has receptors sensitive to hormones. It is especially the firmness that sins, because fibroblasts are less able to produce collagen. Specifically, we lose about 30% of our collagen in the first five years after menopause.
By having less estrogen available, the skin loses its elasticity and relaxes. Take the example of a rubber band that has been stretched too much for a while: it ends up becoming very soft, or even breaking. It is exactly the same principle with the skin of a postmenopausal woman. In addition, during menopause, the naturally occurring hyaluronic acid in the skin is broken down by an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which only worsens the lack of hydration and firmness.

Other phenomena appearing at the time of menopause: a weakened secretion of sebum and a pH which changes. This has the effect of making the barrier effect of our stratum corneum less effective. Finally, the renewal of keratinocytes (the cells that make up 90% of the skin) slows down and causes an accumulation of old cells on the surface of the epidermis.
As a result, the skin becomes more fragile on the surface, retains less water and we see dryness of the skin and all the mucous membranes of the body, including the vaginal mucous membranes. The latter can occur even after you have had normal, combination or oily skin for years, but it is not automatic. Thus, it is easier to notice sensations of tightness or itching, skin that peels or cracks. However, who says dry skin, says formation of wrinkles and fine lines faster and more important.

The estrogen deficit that the body experiences during menopause also has an impact on the skin's ability to protect itself from external aggressions. It becomes even weaker against UV rays, which means that each prolonged and unprotected exposure effectively weakens it and intensifies skin aging. This is because the antioxidants naturally present in the body fail to manage oxidative stress and disordered melanocytes produce more melanin than is necessary. As a result, the melanin rises and this creates spots on the surface of the skin. In short, at menopause, it is sun protection, hat and glasses with each exposure if you care about your skin.

Who says skin disorder, says that a long-forgotten enemy can reappear on our skin: acne. The latter is all the more difficult for postmenopausal women to manage as their skin often does not support the purifying active ingredients used by adolescents prone to blemishes. They therefore need purifying care, but sufficiently delicate to act gently and designed to take into account the problem of aging at the same time.

Finally, as the skin renewal process is less optimal, the skin tends to lose softness and radiance. The body naturally has the capacity to produce new skin cells throughout its life to replace those that die and from which it is detached on its own. But with certain factors that disturb it, such as stress, pollution, junk food, lack of sleep, UV rays and of course age, this process is less vigorous. The cells are then renewed more slowly, and dead skin remains on the surface of the skin which tends to gray the complexion. This is all the more true if you don't give your skin a regular boost by removing make-up every day, exfoliating regularly and using active ingredients that promote skin renewal.

Which treatments to favor?

At menopause more than at any age, going to bed with a dirty face will not forgive. Not only will your skin be more marked when you wake up, but you will also accentuate the consequences of menopause.
Keep it simple: in the morning when you wake up, a floral water is enough to eliminate impurities. In the evening when removing makeup, make double-cleansing your favorite ritual. With an oil or a milk, you will effectively eliminate all makeup particles, but also pollution residues. Finish the cleansing with a cotton pad soaked in floral water or a spritz of thermal water, or if your skin is not afraid of water, a gentle cleansing foam.

If the fact of multiplying the applications of care does not give you cold sweats (we have enough hot flashes), apply, as a pre-care, a lotion rich in hydrating active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ginkgo biloba or some species of brown algae. Another possibility a few times a year: swap the lotion for a cure in the form of ultra-concentrated ampoules and real skincare booster.

Then comes the serum step, which will be essential for postmenopausal skin. It comes in the form of very light emulsions, and even in an oil version, if your skin really needs to regain comfort. Thanks to the serum, you can bring a real dose of care to your skin. As it is very concentrated in active ingredients (vegetable oils, essential oils, vitamins, etc.), it will be able to regulate skin problems by treating a specific problem: the lack of hydration of course, but also sagging skin, spots browns, redness, wrinkles, lack of radiance… His allies? Vitamin A or retinol, with notable anti-aging effects: it sublimates the epidermis on the surface and improves the elasticity of the skin by inhibiting deleterious enzymes that degrade collagen. Vitamin C, for its part, will boost the radiance of the skin by boosting skin renewal and limiting the negative action of oxidation phenomena caused by free radicals. Finally, by limiting the anarchic production of melanin, it is a perfect anti-stain active.
In short, the serum is THE treatment on which you should not balk if you want to obtain a real result on your face.

Finally, make way for the cream. Preferably, opt for a cream specifically designed for the night. It will have the advantage of being particularly rich in emollient active ingredients and rich in ceramides (glycerin, aloe vera, squalane, etc.) which will quickly penetrate our skin to restore lipids and the hydrolipidic film, or moisturizers such as hyaluronic acid for restore suppleness and softness to the skin. Finally, the creams also contain nourishing ingredients – such as vegetable oils or vegetable butters such as shea or coconut butter. These ingredients are a godsend when the skin will be most receptive to the care it receives. Also, the very creamy texture of creams dedicated to mature skin will provide all the comfort so menopausal skin is sorely lacking.

Our extra tip: stretch your treatments well beyond the contours of the face, along the neck and at the level of the décolleté so that the quality of your skin is the same everywhere and that these areas just as fragile and exposed as the face are treated. In addition to this, you need to know more about it.

Food can work!

While staying hydrated is important at every age of life, it is even more so during menopause. Indeed, if the hydration of the skin by the care that you apply to it is important, a good glass of water, herbal tea or green tea every hour, we have never known better! It's silly, but it works so well that it would be a shame not to do it.

On the plate side, favor ingredients containing phytoestrogens such as fennel, soy, broccoli, oats or even rice. Also eat fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Do not forget legumes and dried fruits and prefer light sources of protein as much as possible (white meats, fish, etc.). Finally, eliminate cigarettes from your daily routine and limit your intake of sugar, alcohol and coffee.

What food supplements to bet on during menopause?

They can be of real use, in addition to a balanced diet for the quality and comfort of the skin. For it to gain flexibility, softness and comfort, why not take, as a cure or year-round, evening primrose or borage oil-based capsules, rich in omega 3 and 6?

Some brands go further by offering this winning combination for the skin and sometimes adding natural ferments, perfect for helping the skin flora to be stronger on a daily basis to protect itself from external aggressions. Don't overlook antioxidants to keep skin as healthy as possible, either.