Your Skin on Menopause

Even though most of us may not be quite there yet….but if you are my age you may be premenopausal. My estrogen levels are decreasing. Meaning, a list of skin changes, including loss of elasticity, increased dryness and more wrinkling. Yay! At the same time your testosterone increases too. This may cause your skin to break out as well. Joy!

I haven’t had hot flashes yet but I have also been popping Black Cohosh religiously. I figured it’s never too early to start with that. I have read somewhere that you should keep a mineral water spritz in the fridge to combat the flashes. Since they can leave your skin red and flushed.

Cells in aging skin make fewer “growth factors”. I had to dig deeper to find out what these actually are! They are proteins that help stimulate collagen and elastin production in your skin. Who the heck knew?

But have no fear; there are plenty of products out there to help you “restore” your growth factors. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C in a skin care product are supposed to be one solution. For more serious issues; vitamin A…retinol has proven to be effective. And just simply keeping your skin hydrated.

I wondered if serums are actually effective and the reasoning why they may be makes sense. Serums are water based and therefore are more quickly absorbed by the skin. The reason why you are supposed to layer this with a moisturizer or oil is because apparently serums lack that ability. I hope I explained that correctly, but you got the overall point right?

For those of you who are already experiencing the joy of menopause; get your hands on any product that moisturizes. Hyaluronic acid is the best for locking in the moisture. Try a mask with this ingredient…It’s supposed to work miracles. Keep in mind that Hyaluronic Acid should be applied to damp skin. I spray it with mineral water first. The product will lock in the moisture. HA on dry skin may just suck the last bit of moisture out of your skin which is the last thing you need. Hyaluronic Acid SerumYou may also want to invest in a product with ceramides, they help strengthen your skin.

Stressing about any of this can cause more havoc to your skin. I never knew that stress can create a breakdown in collagen as well. So let’s tackle this phase with a smile and a positive attitude! And maybe a glass of wine….