How Skin Changes During Perimenopause and Menopause
How Skin Changes During Perimenopause and Menopause
With World Menopause Day approaching on the 18th of October, we are once again helping to raise awareness to support menopausal women through their personal journey for improved health and wellbeing.
On average, menopause will affect every single women with symptoms beginning between the ages of 45-49 and can continue for up to 10 years. There are genetic and DNA signallers that can predispose some women to early menopause, although perimenopausal symptoms often begin during a woman’s 30s and 40s regardless of genetic or DNA predisposition as oestrogen and progesterone levels naturally begin to fall. Menopause is a natural part of the ageing process, but it can bring challenging and irritating menopausal symptoms including:
- night sweats
- hot flushes
- mood changes
- memory loss
- sleep disorders
- weight gain
- vaginal symptoms
Although there are numerous support and treatment options available for the above symptoms, little is available for the effects of menopause on the skin. The decrease in oestrogen levels associated with menopause in women has shown to have a disproportionate and overwhelming impact on the visible signs of ageing and the condition of the skin.
The Effect of Menopause on the Skin
Oestrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining the health, suppleness and youthful appearance of one’s skin. As oestrogen levels naturally decline, women commonly experience dryness, dullness and wrinkling of the skin non-hormonally. According to Associate Clinical Professor in the department of Dermatology at the University of California Irvine, Joel L. Cohen MD says that “there is a 30% drop in collagen during the first 5 years of menopause”, causing fine lines and wrinkles. Associate Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, Diane Berson MD also adds that “the skin’s fibroblasts produce less collagen and elastin as a result of estrogen deficiency. There is also less connective tissue and glycosaminoglycans as well as thinner epidermis; this leads to reduced hydration and compromised barrier function. Oestrogen deficient skin is therefore thin, atrophic, dry, fragile, dull, and wrinkled.”
Signs of Oestrogen Deficient Skin:
- Dry skin
- Dullness
- Atrophy
- Pruritus
- Decreased barrier function
- Decreased moisture
- Decrease in collagen and elastin
- Increase in fine lines and wrinkles
- Increased texture abnormalities
Many of the available topicals and treatments available today, including injectables, lasers and light-based devices and chemical peels can effectively address some of the signs of skin aging, but none of these modalities target accelerated skin ageing due to the loss of oestrogen.
Fortunately, Emepelle® is now available in Australia and New Zealand to target the loss of oestrogen in the skin due to menopause. Thanks to the hero ingredient, Methyl Estradiolpropanoate (MEP). It is a non hormonal estrogen receptor activator that is specific to the skin. It has no systemic side effects and helps to improve oxidative stress and improve the appearance of dryness, dullness and fine lines.
Emepelle® is the first and only skincare range with MEP Technology specifically engineered to help women address the menopausal oestrogen deficient skin. The range has been clinically proven to decrease visibility of wrinkles, improve the texture and colour of the skin, and facilitate better skin hydration. For more information, head over to the Emeplle® skincare range.
Further information and support:
Australasian Menopause Society