Menopausal Skin Changes

After menopause, your skin might feel thinner, drier, and more prone to wrinkles, sagging, and irritation. You may notice hair growing on your chin or on other places on your face where you never had hair before.

Lower estrogen levels can lead to lower levels of collagen, a protein that helps keep your skin plump and firm. Less collagen can cause your skin to feel thin and droopy. 

You also may notice other changes, including age spots, signs of sun damage, and pimples or acne.

Menopause can cause a number of skin changes and conditions, but you can manage them with the right care. Here are recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology. 

After menopause, your skin loses some of its ability to hold moisture, so you may find your skin is dry, especially if you live in a dry, hot area. Using a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid or glycerin after you bathe and throughout the day can help. Learn other ways to manage dry skin.

After age 50, the pH level of your skin changes and your skin becomes more sensitive. If you already have eczema or rosacea, it might get worse. Using a fragrance-free moisturizer can help. If you develop a rash that lasts for a while or continues to get worse, you may want to visit a dermatologist.

Hormonal changes during menopause can increase sebum production. Sebum is an oily substance produced by the skin that’s essential for keeping the skin moist. When you have too much sebum, your pores can become blocked, leading to blackheads and pimples.

Since your skin is thinner and drier after menopause, teenage acne treatments can be too harsh and drying, which can make acne worse. Instead, wash with a cleanser that has salicylic acid in it. This helps unclog your pores without irritating your skin.

You can’t undo sun damage that has already happened, but you can prevent further damage. To protect your skin, apply an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day before you go outside. Make sure you apply it to any areas of skin that your clothes don’t cover. Don’t forget about your ears and the back of your neck.

Since your risk of skin cancer goes up as you age, have regular skin cancer checks with a dermatologist.

Just like you do breast self-exams, do skin self-exams to check for odd or changing moles and other growth. Learn how to do a skin self-exam.

As estrogen levels drop, you may find hairs sprouting on your chin or jawline. If you only have a few individual hairs, you can pluck them with tweezers. If you have more than a few, waxing might be an option. Still, if your skin is thin, waxing may be irritating or cause bleeding. Laser hair removal or hair removal cream also might be options. If the hair is dark, bleaching it with an over-the-counter cream can help make it less noticeable. A dermatologist can offer advice about the best options for your situation.

Protecting your face from the sun with a hat and sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent  new wrinkles.. You also might want to use a skin care product that has retinol or peptides in it. These ingredients can increase the amount of collagen in your skin and may reduce visible wrinkles.