Understanding How Menopause Affects Skin Health

Dry eyes and mouth, dry skin and nails, depression and anxiety, hot flashes, bone loss, brain fog, thinning hair … these are all ways that menopause affects the body. We as women can give in to it or we can learn to manage it, adapt, and show the world how strong we are as women.

I was hit hard by menopause, particularly with my skin health, but rather than let it take me down, I researched how I could better manage it.  That research and the solutions it lead me to create to treat my dry skin and eczema, resulted in the birth of Enchanted Lotus Beauty.

The first part of that research and figuring out what managing menopause means for you (as let’s face it, each woman’s journey is unique) is understanding how menopause affects you, and for me with my new skin conditions was understanding how menopause affects skin health.

Why Menopause Affects Skin Health

Dry skin is a common side affect of menopause due to decreased estrogen levels, which impact skin cell function and moisture retention . This leads to a weakened skin barrier, reduces collagen, and results in a lack of oil production.

Elements Causing Dry Skin & Other Skin Conditions as a Result of Menopause

•  Decreased Estrogen 

Estrogen plays a vital role to maintaining skin hydration and elasticity. Decreased estrogen during menopause causes skin loses some  of its ability to hold water, resulting in skin dryness .

• Reduced Collagen

Collagen is a key protein in skin that  provides structure and support. Collagen production significantly decreases during  menopause, leading to a loss of skin firmness and increased dryness.

• Lower Oil Production

Sebum, the oil produced by skin glands, helps keep skin moisturised. Estrogen decline can also reduce sebum oil production, further exacerbating skin dryness .

• Weakened Skin Barrier

The outer layer of the skin acts as a barrier, protecting against moisture loss. During menopause this barrier weakens, making it more susceptible  to dryness. 

Caring for Your Skin Health

One of my goals with the Self Care Chronicles is to share what I’ve learned in my research into menopause and skin health. A starting point for those looking for solutions are to:

• Read about ‘Foods That Help with Dry Skin‘.
• Review ‘Managing Dry Skin During Menopause‘.
• Explore the Enchanted Lotus Beauty Products that I designed to care for my own skin.

If you have solutions of your own, for managing your skin health through menopause, I’d love to hear about what works for you in the comments.