“In menopause, skin quickly loses collagen. Studies show that women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause”.1
Umbrella
What may the Menopause Skin Changes Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Acne
- Dry Skin
- Formication
- Itchy Skin
- Less Elastic or “Stretchy” Skin
- Less Younger Looking Skin
- Saggy Skin
- Thinner Feeling Skin
- Wrinkly Skin
Menopause
Is there an association between menopause and skin changes?
Yes. In Caring for Your Skin In Menopause: Jowls, Slack Skin, and Wrinkles the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) elaborate on:
As collagen diminishes, our skin loses it firmness and begins to sag. Jowls appear. Permanent lines run from the tip of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Wrinkles that used to appear only with a smile or frown become visible all the time.
Later, the tip of the nose dips. You may see pouches under your eyes.
Large pores also are due to lack of skin firmness”.2
Aging
Is there an association between aging and skin changes?
Yes. In Skin Care and Aging the (United States) National Institute on Aging (NIA) elaborate on:
“Your skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Your veins and bones can be seen more easily. Scratches, cuts, or bumps can take longer to heal. Years of sun tanning or being out in the sunlight for a long time may lead to wrinkles, dryness, age spots, and even cancer. But, there are things you can do to protect your skin and to make it feel and look better”.3
In Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? the NAMS also note:
“A. Aging skin undergoes loss of structural proteins (collagen) and elasticity, which creates sags and wrinkles. It also becomes less able to retain moisture, leading to increased dryness. Hormones play an important role in skin health. In particular, for women diminished levels of estrogen at menopause contribute to a decline in skin collagen and thickness”.4
Sunlight
Is there an association between sunlight and skin changes?
In Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? the NAMS explain:
“Exposure to sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet (UV) light is another significant factor in skin changes. Long-term UV ray exposure causes negative effects on skin appearance, including lines, wrinkles, rough texture, and brown spots, to build up over time”.5
Skin Cancer
Is there an association between aging skin and skin cancer?
Yes. The NAMS explain:
“Aging skin also is more prone to skin cancer. For this reason, use of a good sunscreen is essential. For optimal UV protection, women should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Ideally, it should be applied every day to exposed areas and reapplied every 2 to 3 hours during outdoor activities. Avoiding the sun during peak hours (11 am to 3 pm) and wearing a broad-brimmed hat and solar protective clothing are also advised. Avoid tanning to ensure healthier, more attractive skin—tanned skin means that skin is damaged”.6
Smoking
Is there an association between smoking and skin changes?
Yes. According to the NAMS:
“In smokers, the effects of aging are more pronounced, and long-time smokers have more skin damage. Maintaining skin health is one of several good reasons not to smoke or to quit smoking”.7
Acne
Is there an association between acne and midlife?
In Caring for Your Skin In Menopause: Pimples and Other Types of Acne the AAD note:
“As levels of female hormones drop before and during menopause, some women develop teenage-like acne”.8
Are treatments for teenage acne too harsh?
The AAD explain:
- Wash acne-prone skin with a cleanser that contains salicylic acid. This helps unclog pores
- Avoid acne products that dry your skin. Drying your skin can worsen acne
- Make a dermatology appointment if you cannot get acne under control. A hormonal treatment may be necessary”.9
Formication
What is formication?
DotS the definition of formication may vary. The NAMS’s definition is:
“Formication. Irritating sensations to the skin, ranging from severe itching to phantom symptoms of “ants crawling on their skin” experienced by some perimenopausal women”.10
Dry Itchy Skin
What are some ways to help dry, itchy skin?
The NIA explain:
- Use moisturizers, like lotions, creams, or ointments, every day
- Take fewer baths or showers and use milder soap. Warm water is less drying than hot water. Don’t add bath oil to your water. It can make the tub too slippery
- Try using a humidifier, an appliance that adds moisture to a room”.11
Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips
What are some anti-aging skin care tips?
In Skin Care In Your 40s and 50s: How To Create An Anti-Aging Skin Care Plan the American Academy of Dermatology elaborate on:
- Protect your skin from the sun…
- Seek shade…
- Cover up in style…
- Slather on the sunscreen every day before going outdoors…
- Forget about indoor tanning….
- Apply moisturizer everyday…
- Wash away dirt and grime twice a day…
- Stop smoking…
- Eat healthy foods…
- Get enough sleep…”.12
Products
What products provide skin benefits?
The NAMS explain:
“A moisturizer also can minimize water loss from the skin and make it appear more hydrated. Most cream-based moisturizers contain ingredients that boost the outer layer of the skin. Other components, such as hyaluronic acid and topical retinoids, have shown to provide skin benefits”.13
Health Care Provider
What if I have some skin changes I am concerned about, including down there?
If you have some skin changes you are concerned about – anywhere – it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The NIA note:
“Check your skin often. If you find any changes that worry you, see your doctor”.14
The AAD also note:
“Skin cancer and pre-cancerous skin growths also become more common”.15
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Skin Changes?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Menopause Skin Changes?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- 10 Reasons Your Face Is Red
- 10 Skin Care Habits That Can Worsen Acne
- 11 Ways To Reduce Premature Aging
- A To Z of Skin Diseases
- A Visual Guide To 6 Conditions That Cause Skin Discoloration
- Acne
- Acne
- Acne: Tips for Managing
- Adult Acne
- Age Spots (Liver Spots)
- Aging Changes In Skin
- American Academy of Dermatologists
- Anti-Aging Skin Care
- Ask A Dermatologist: What Ingredients Should I Look for In Rejuvenation Products?
- Bags Under Eyes
- Botox
- Botox Injections
- British Skin Foundation
- Can Creams for Younger Looking Skin Reduce Wrinkles or Reverse Skin Damage?
- Can I Reverse the Effects of Aging Skin?
- Caring for Your Skin In Menopause [+ Video: How To Care for Your Skin During Menopause]
- Cosmetic Procedures
- Cosmetic Procedures: Chemical Peels
- Cosmetic Procedures: Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
- Cosmetic Procedures: Is Cosmetic Surgery Right for Me?
- Cosmetic Procedures: Laser Hair Removal
- Cosmetic Procedures: Microdermobrasion
- Cosmetic Procedures: Skin Lightening
- Cosmetic Surgery: What To Know Beforehand
- Detect Skin Cancer: How To Perform A Skin Self-Exam
- Diseases and Treatments
- Does Drinking Water Cause Hydrated Skin?
- Dry Skin Relief
- Eye Cosmetic Safety
- Face Washing 101
- Hair & Acne – Management & Treatment
- Healthy Body: Common Skin Conditions
- Healthy Body: Look After Your Skin
- Healthy Body: Sunscreen and Sun Safety
- Healthy Skin Matters
- Home Remedies: Acne Affects People of All Ages
- Home Remedies: Dealing With the Difficulties of Dry Skin
- Home Remedies: Skin Tends To Be Driest In Winter
- Home Remedies: Take Steps At Home To Manage Dry, Cracked Heels
- Home Remedies: Weathering Those Wrinkles
- Home Remedies: What About Those Wrinkles?
- How To Care for Your Skin In Your 60s and 70s
- How To Maximize Results From Anti-Aging Skin Care Products
- How To Select Anti-Aging Skin Care Products
- Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
- Is Rosacea Causing Your Red, Irritated Face?
- Is Sunscreen From Last Year Still Good? When Does Sunscreen Expire?
- Is That Acne or Rosacea on Your Skin?
- Living Better With Psoriasis
- Many Ways To Firm Sagging Skin
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Catching Skin Cancer Early
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: What Are Seborrheic Keratoses?
- Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Skin Care for Your Hands, Face During COVID-19
- Mayoclinic.org/psoriasis-site: Living Better With Psoriasis
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin?
- Menopause and the Skin: Old Favorites and New Innovations In Cosmeceuticals for Estrogen-Deficient Skin
- Menopause – What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause: Changes In the Body and Keeping Healthy – Changes In Skin and Hair [Video Interview Stories]
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 6 Tips: What You Need To Know About Complementary Health Approaches for Skin Conditions
- Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
- Quit Tobacco Today! [+ Video: Meet Florence – She Can Help You Quit Tobacco!]
- Seborrheic Keratosis
- Skin Aging
- Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ)–Patient Version
- Skin Cancer Screening (PDQ)–Patient Version
- Skin Care In Your 40s and 50s [+ Video]
- Skin Care In Your 40s and 50s [+ Video]: Anti-Aging Skin Care Plan
- Skin Care and Aging
- Skin Care: 5 Tips for Healthy Skin
- Skin Conditions
- Skin Tags
- Skin, Hair and Nails: Skin, Hair and Nails Topics
- Treatments To Reduce Wrinkles
- Using Cosmetics Safely
- Varicose Veins
- Varicose Veins
- Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
- Vitiligo: What You Need To Know
- What Are the Best Foods for Healthy Skin?
- What Can Get Rid of Age Spots?
- What Is Rosacea?
- What’s Your Sun Safety IQ?
- Why Am I Getting Acne After Menopause?
- Winter Skin Care [Video]
- Wrinkle Creams: Your Guide To Younger Looking Skin
- Wrinkle Remedies
- Wrinkles
- Wrinkles: Diagnosis & Treatment
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Caring for Your Skin In Menopause. Jowls, Slack Skin, and Wrinkles. American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/skin-care-during-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Caring for Your Skin In Menopause. Jowls, Slack Skin, and Wrinkles. American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/skin-care-during-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Skin Care and Aging. Content Reviewed: 01 October 2017. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/skin-care-and-aging Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Caring for Your Skin In Menopause: Pimples and Other Types of Acne. American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/skin-care-during-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Caring for Your Skin In Menopause: Pimples and Other Types of Acne – What You Can Do. American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/skin-care-during-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause Glossary: F – Formication. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#F Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Skin Care and Aging: Dry Skin and Itching. Content Reviewed: 01 October 2017. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/skin-care-and-aging Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Skin Care In Your 40s and 50s: Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips. American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/skin-care-basics/skin-care-in-your-40s-and-50s Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. What can I do about my aging skin? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Skin Care and Aging: Keep Your Skin Healthy. Content Reviewed: 01 October 2017. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/skin-care-and-aging#healthy Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Caring for Your Skin In Menopause: Age Spots and Other Signs of Sun Damaged Skin. American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/skin-care-during-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020