Skin changes during the menopause – finding the right routine for ageing skin

The key points

• During the menopause, falling oestrogen levels often cause a decline in collagen, elastin and ceramides, which can lead to changes in your skin.

• During the menopause, your skin will become saggier and you might often experience dry itching, pigment spots, enlarged pores and impurities.

• Gentle, personalised skincare that’s fragrance-free and doesn’t contain other irritating ingredients can help your skin regenerate and regain some of its elasticity.

How do hormonal changes affect the skin during the menopause?

The menopause in women usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55. During this time, the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen decreases dramatically, and male androgens become more dominant. It’s precisely this menopausal hormonal chaos that in most cases is the main trigger for changes in your skin.

Want to know more? Put simply, oestrogen not only controls your menstrual cycle, it also has a strong influence on the production of collagen, elastin and ceramides. These are essential building blocks for plump, firm, moisturised and elastic skin.

If your hormone levels fall, your skin becomes visibly thinner and saggier – regeneration slows down and skin cells stop renewing as quickly as they did before. This is a completely natural process. In fact, studies show that around 50 to 70% of women complain of skin changes such as dryness or itching during and after the menopause.

But the opposite can also be the case. Oily skin and enlarged pores are not uncommon. The male androgens, which are now in excess, are usually what cause this increased production of sebum.

The right skincare for changes during the menopause

Very few women know what to do when their complexion suddenly does a 180 and becomes dry, sensitive, greasy or uneven. Nevertheless, it’s important to find a skincare routine that not only alleviates the symptoms, but also supports your skin in a targeted way with carefully selected, high-quality ingredients – exactly what your skin needs. Moisture, protection and elasticity.

Nourishing moisturisers for itchy and dry skin

It’s a logical conclusion that dry skin lacks moisture. This is often due to weakened skin protection, as the skin is less able to retain valuable lipids. Creams containing hyaluronic acid, glycerol and ceramides not only moisturise, they also strengthen the skin barrier, ensuring moisture stays in the skin for longer.

For very dry skin, rich day and night creams that also work during the night-time regeneration phase are ideal. Creams containing evening primrose oil, almond oil and other oil-based skincare products are very popular. Avoid cleansers that dry the skin out and creams containing alcohol or zinc.Firming up saggy, wrinkly skin

If the skin loses its elasticity and structure, what it needs are active ingredients such as retinol, peptides, vitamin C and niacinamide. These ingredients stimulate collagen formation, giving the skin more elasticity and a fuller appearance. Daily sun protection also helps to protect against UV rays and other harmful environmental factors that can cause premature ageing.

Gentle, balancing skincare for liver spots and pigment disorders

Liver and pigment spots are also typical skin changes that occur during the menopause. Mild AHA and BHA exfoliants, as well as creams and serums containing vitamin C, help combat what’s known as hyperpigmentation. To prevent new spots from forming, high-quality sun protection is essential here as well.

Refining moisturisers for oily skin and large pores

As oestrogen levels drop during the menopause, there’s often a simultaneous increase in male androgens. These hormones influence sebum flow, resulting not only in greasier hair, but also shiny areas on the face, which are often accompanied by enlarged pores.

Skincare ranges containing niacinamides and zinc regulate excess sebum and provide the skin with additional moisture through nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid without making it greasy. Even oily skin needs moisture; just less rich and preferably in light, gel-like water-based textures.

Rashes and redness – sensitive, fragrance-free skincare

Fragrance-free products that also don’t contain alcohol or silicone are best for skin redness, such as rosacea. Soothing ingredients such as panthenol, bisabolol, urea or aloe vera offer gentler care instead. At the same time, make sure that your skin can breathe by opting for high-quality sleepwear made from natural materials, such as cotton, during your skin’s night-time regeneration phases. Such breathable pyjamas regulate body temperature perfectly, counteracting the hot flushes typical of the menopause.

If the redness is accompanied by severe itching, pustules or other allergy-like symptoms, it’s advisable that you visit a dermatologist, who will then determine whether this is due to hormone-related neurodermatitis or a different skin condition, and prescribe the right course of treatment for you, which may include cortisone.

By the way, although natural cosmetics initially appear very gentle, they may also contain irritating ingredients that can aggravate your skin. Fragrance-free creams from medical skincare ranges are therefore more suitable. These are often labelled as supplementary care products for neurodermatitis. If you find you can tolerate a product from a specific range particularly well, it may be a good idea to use other products such as night creams, serums or facial cleansers from the same skincare range.

For decorative cosmetics during the menopause – less is more

When your skin becomes drier during menopause and the first wrinkles form, the make-up you choose suddenly looks different as well. Heavy foundation often settles unevenly, and highly opaque concealers can crease in your eye wrinkles. This doesn’t just look unattractive, it can also irritate your skin because we often don’t actually know what ingredients our cosmetics contain.

A gentle make-up look with light formulations protects sensitive skin and creates a fresh complexion. It’s therefore better to use a good moisturiser and light BB creams that make your skin appear even and radiant without being too heavy. Avoid strongly scented products that contain potentially irritating ingredients such as alcohol.

Hormone treatments, Botox, etc. Helpful or dangerous?

Botox treatments for smoother and plumper skin are no longer reserved for the rich and beautiful. However, caution is advised with these treatments, as the active ingredient botulinum toxin is actually a nerve toxin that can damage the facial nerves and muscles if used improperly. Therefore, you should only have such treatment performed by qualified professionals and keep in mind that it can only reverse a fraction of the age- and hormone-related skin changes attributed to the menopause.

If you suffer not only from wrinkles and sagging skin, but also from dryness, liver spots and other skin changes, the right skincare routine is essential. Active ingredients such as retinol, peptides or physical stimulation procedures such as microneedling or laser treatments have pigment-lightening and collagen-promoting effects – without any hormonal impact.

If you experience other unwanted psychological and physical changes during the menopause, you may consider undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) under medical supervision. These therapies can alleviate hormone-related skin changes such as dryness, strengthen the skin barrier and counteract hair loss. They also often improve psychological symptoms such as irritability, mood swings and sleeping disorders.

Conclusion

Skin changes during menopause are not unique to you, they’re completely natural and very common. Nevertheless, you can take them as an indication that it might be time to find new skincare products and develop routines that are perfectly tailored to your needs.

Dry, itchy, sagging or blemish-prone skin can benefit from moisturising, regenerating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide and ceramides. On the other hand, avoid irritating ingredients such as perfume, alcohol, preservatives and silicones. This will help you achieve a regenerated and radiant complexion that will make you feel good well into your old age.