Are you noticing changes in your skin as you go through menopause? You’re not alone, and it is important that you feel supported throughout this process.
Menopause brings many changes to a woman’s body, but one of the most noticeable shifts occurs in the skin. Symptoms such as loss of collagen and volume, increased dryness, and thinning skin can accelerate the ageing process, leaving the skin looking tired and lacklustre.
At The Academy Clinic, we recognise how these changes can influence your confidence and well-being. Let’s explore what happens to your skin during menopause and how our treatments can help you maintain a healthy, radiant complexion.
What Is Menopause and How Does It Affect Your Skin?
Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs and hormone levels—particularly oestrogen and progesterone—decline significantly.
Menopause is divided into three main phases:
- Perimenopause: The transition leading up to menopause, which can last for 4-10 years. During this time, hormone levels fluctuate, and you may experience symptoms like irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, and mood swings.
- Menopause: You are officially in menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. The average age for this in the UK is 51.
- Postmenopause: The phase after menopause, which continues for the rest of your life. Hormone levels remain low, and some symptoms like hot flushes or sleep disturbances may persist.
Each phase affects your skin and understanding these changes will help you make informed choices about your skincare routine and treatment options.
How Menopause Affects Your Skin
As oestrogen levels decline, several changes occur in your skin. These changes can be subtle at first, but over time, they can become more noticeable.
- Collagen Loss: Collagen, the protein responsible for skin’s structure and elasticity, begins to break down. This can make your skin thinner and more fragile.
- Loss of Elasticity: Elastin helps your skin bounce back, but reduced production can lead to sagging, particularly around the jawline and cheeks.
- Volume Loss: You may notice a loss of fullness in your face, particularly in the cheeks and temples. This can create a hollow or sunken appearance.
- Wrinkles and Fine Lines: As the skin becomes less elastic, wrinkles, particularly around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, may deepen.
- Hyperpigmentation: Dark spots or patches may appear or become more pronounced due to hormonal changes.
- Slower Healing: Your skin may take longer to heal from minor cuts, which is important to consider when undergoing treatments like microneedling.
- Dryness and Dehydration: Oestrogen helps the skin retain moisture, but as levels drop, the skin may become drier and more prone to irritation.
Treatments for Menopausal Skin
There are many ways to address the skin concerns that arise during menopause. From improving hydration to restoring volume and reducing wrinkles, a tailored treatment plan can help rejuvenate your skin. It’s important to note that these treatments are not a necessity but can be helpful for those looking to support their skin through this natural life stage. Here are some options:
Hydration and Dryness
As your skin becomes drier, it’s important to focus on hydration—from drinking more water to investing in hydrating skincare products and exploring deeply nourishing treatments.
- Topical Skincare: Moisturising with products containing hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides can help restore moisture.
- Injectable treatments such as Profhilo®, a hyaluronic acid injectable, can deeply hydrate the skin and improve texture with minimal downtime. We recommend 2 treatments 4-6 weeks apart, followed by a maintenance treatment every 3-6 months.
Uneven Skin Texture
If your skin feels rough or uneven, there are many non-invasive, low-downtime treatments that can help improve texture:
- Chemical Peels: Peels using AHAs (glycolic, lactic) or BHAs (salicylic acid) exfoliate the skin, improving both texture and tone. We recommend a course of 3 treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
- Microneedling: The controlled micro-injuries created by fine needles during microneedling encourage the skin’s natural healing process, leading to smoother, more even skin. This can help reduce the appearance of rough patches, large pores, and scars, leaving the skin with a healthier, more refined texture. We typically recommend a course of 3 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart.
Skin Laxity
As collagen and elastin production decrease, skin may lose some of its firmness, leading to gentle sagging—particularly in the cheeks, jawline, and neck.
- Microneedling is also an excellent treatment for skin laxity. The stimulation of collagen and elastin production helps to support and maintain skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Injectables like Profhilo® and polynucleotides are highly effective in restoring skin structure and supporting elasticity.
- As mentioned earlier, Profhilo® is known for its deeply hydrating benefits. It also stimulates collagen production, improving skin firmness and elasticity, particularly in the face and neck.
- Polynucleotides, derived from fish DNA, promote collagen and elastin regeneration, helping to tighten and firm the skin while enhancing moisture retention and overall skin texture. We recommend a course of 3 treatments, spaced 2-4 weeks apart, with maintenance treatments every 3-6 months.
Hyperpigmentation and Dark Spots
Hormonal changes can lead to pigmentation issues, so it is essential daily SPF is applied, a minimum of SPF 30 or SPF 50 is optimal. There are also several treatments that can help even out skin tone, including:
- Topical skincare: Vitamin C, retinol, and alpha arbutin can help reduce pigmentation over time.
- Laser treatments can be beneficial for superficial pigmentation, targeting and breaking down pigment in the skin resulting in a brighter complexion.
- Chemical peels: These can address mild to moderate hyperpigmentation by exfoliating the skin.
- Polynucleotides harness the regenerative power of fish DNA to brighten the skin. These bio-stimulating injectables can target under-eye and full-face pigmentation.
Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Wrinkles, especially around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, can deepen during menopause. Treatments to reduce their appearance include:
- Retinol: Incorporating retinol into your at-home skincare routine can help smooth fine lines and improve skin texture. The strength and frequency of use should be tailored to your skin’s needs, as advised by your skin specialist after a thorough skin analysis.
- Anti-wrinkle Injections: For dynamic wrinkles (those caused by facial movement), anti-wrinkle treatments are a popular choice to relax muscles and smooth out lines.
- Profhilo®: This injectable can help reduce lines caused by dehydration, giving the skin a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Volume Loss
As oestrogen levels decline, you may notice that your face loses volume, especially in the cheeks and temples. Treatments that can help restore volume include:
- Dermal Fillers: using hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers to restore lost volume, soften lines, and rejuvenate the face. Treatments can target specific areas, such as the cheeks, jawline, and lips, or multiple areas for a balanced, refreshed appearance. Results can last up to 12 months.
- Profhilo Structura is a next-generation, heat-stabilised hyaluronic acid injectable that helps regenerate subcutaneous fat, restoring lost volume and improving skin firmness in a natural way. We recommend 1 treatment every 3-6 months.
Your Path to Healthy, Radiant Skin During Menopause
Menopause brings about significant changes to your skin, but whatever changes you experience, support and guidance are available to ensure you feel your most confident self. Whether you’re dealing with dryness, volume loss, fine lines, or pigmentation, aesthetic treatments can be tailored to your unique needs.
