I binge-watched Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Lives over the weekend — condemn me for wanting to indulge in some superficiality for once. It’s almost cathartic because you tuck away your Earthly anxieties and tensions for an hour. But one of the episodes got the ladies discussing menopause, and while they were talking about hot-flashes and such, I wondered whether this stage has any effects on the skin. Are menopause-related breakouts legitimate? Because I’ve heard many of my mother’s friends regard them distastefully. What’s ageing like after menopause, and what are the kind of hormonal skin-related changes you go through during this period?
I connected with Dr. Saloni Vora-Gala, Senior Consultant Dermatologist & Cosmetologist at Dr Rekha Sheth’s Skin & Hair Clinic, Mumbai and Dr. Sushma Yadav, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon & Founder, Skinology Centre to tell me more about this phase, its implications on the skin, and how long it lasts.
When going through menopause does your skin undergo any changes?
“Menopause usually occurs a year after a woman gets her last period. The skin does go through a lot of changes during this point of time. It can become excessively dry, loose and wrinkly; facial hair-growth can spike up; acne can surface; and your skin can become extra sensitive to bruises and wounds,” says Dr. Sushma.
Dr. Saloni tells us that these manifestations develop about 3 to 5 years prior to menopause. They differ from woman to woman depending on their health and lifestyle; but common side-effects involve experiencing dull, dehydrated, and dry skin; loss of lustre; thinner skin; increase in fine lines and wrinkles, sagging, loss of firmness; hyperpigmentation, increase in (body) hair —especially over face; acne, appearance of newer freckles or benign moles; and puffiness due to increased water-retention — especially around eyes.
Why does this happen?
Both experts attribute these changes to a couple of factors:
- Dropping Estrogen Levels: Estrogens are responsible for maintaining our skin’s oil-balance. It keeps the skin smoother and well-hydrated by holding moisture — the lack of which makes it dry and dehydrated.
- Dropping Collagen Levels: When your skin loses its ability to hold hydration, it becomes dry and loose. This leads to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, saggy skin, and a rough texture
- Hormonal Changes: Post-menopausal increase in male hormones like androgens and testosterones may cause acne, hyperpigmentation, and hirsuitism.
- Increased Sensitivity: Since your skin becomes extra thin at this point of time, it can skin bruise easily. Even the process of healing slows down.
Are there any ways to reduce their severity — if not stop or avoid — at all?
Because it’s something that’s natural, you cannot avoid it; but there are ways you can make the process manageable. Dr. Sushma and Dr. Saloni leave us with a couple of tips:
- Book an appointment with your dermatologist to find the right treatments and skincare products for your skin. Since the journey may vary from woman to woman, it is important to find out what your skin needs, and your doctor can help you with that.
- Always wear sunscreen. It protects your skin from harmful sun-induced damaged.
- Be consistent with your skincare regimen, and use gentle and mild products on your skin.
- Stay hydrated and moisturised, and keep your diet as clean as possible.
- Sleep early, and for a minimum of 7 to 8 hours every night.
- Have a well-balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, and proteins in the form of
- dals, sprouts or pulses, eggs, chicken or fish, and yogurt. Limit your consumption of sugar and processed food.
- Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol.
- Exercise everyday; learn how to manage your stress; and maintain an appropriate weight.
How long do these changes last? Are they permanent?
“These changes, on average, last about 4 to 5 years, but in some cases, they can stoop down to as little as 3 years, or extend up to 7 years. And, yes, they’re mostly permanent,” Dr. Sushma says. Dr. Saloni reiterates, “Physiological changes like dryness, fine lines, and skin-sagging are permanent, but emulating good skin-care habits like moisturising and sun-protection prevent them
from getting worse. Various skin-tightening procedures help over-come lines and sagging, and hormonal changes like acne, pigmentation and hirsuitism can be treated by a dermatologist.”
What kind of a skincare routine should you follow — any specific ingredients to add or avoid?
Dr. Saloni lays down a general regimen for us:
- Every morning, use a gentle cleanser followed by a Vitamin C-infused serum and a hydrating moisturiser containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalene, petrolatum, or glycerine. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above in an adequate quantity over all exposed areas, and repeat every 3 to 4 hours whether indoors or outdoors.
- Cleanse your face thoroughly with a cleanser, and proceed to applying antioxidant-laden serums like niacinamide, resveratrol, peptides or azelaic acid on the skin. Apply a retinoid serum, gel or cream followed by a hydrating moisturiser.
- Exfoliate skin with AHAs or BHAs once or twice a week. Extend your skincare routine to your under-eye area, lips and neck
- as well.
- Bath with a gentle, fragrance-free body-wash, and nourishing your body with a hydrating moisturiser twice or thrice a day.
- Sun-protect exposed parts of the body too.
While Dr. Saloni has equipped us with a full-fledged routine, Dr. Sushma talks to us about some tips and habits to mirror in our lives.
- Use a mild cleanser that contains salicylic acid if you have acne.
- Avoid physical exfoliation as your skin is already dry and sensitive.
- Commit to topical or spot-treatments as suggested by your dermatologist
- Opt for a A fragrance-free, gentle, and hydrating moisturizer
- Always wear a good quality and fragrance-free sunscreen. Reapply every 2-3 hours if you’re outside.
Menopause is normal, and so are the changes that come with it. You can better prepare yourself for this stage of your life by consulting a professional.
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