Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, which is when a woman’s periods stop permanently. It can start several years before menopause and cause a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
The dreaded hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain and disturbed sleep are well-known, but the hormonal changes involved in the perimenopause/menopause can also play havoc with your skin!
How Perimenopause Affects Your Skin
The main reason for skin changes during perimenopause is the fluctuation in hormone levels, which eventually decrease as the body prepares to stop menstruating.
One of the main biological changes that occur during perimenopause is a decline in oestrogen levels. Oestrogen is a key hormone that plays a role in maintaining skin health by promoting collagen production, supporting skin thickness, and helping with moisture retention. As oestrogen levels decrease, the skin can become thinner, drier, and less elastic, leading to the development of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
Additionally, declining oestrogen levels can also impact the skin’s ability to repair and regenerate itself, making it more susceptible to damage from environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollution. This can lead to increased sensitivity, redness, and uneven skin tone.
6 ways perimenopause can affect the skin
Some common symptoms of perimenopause that can affect the skin include:
- Dryness:
A decrease in oil production and moisture retention can lead to dry, flaky skin. - Acne:
Hormonal fluctuations can cause an increase in sebum production, leading to breakouts and acne flare-ups. - Wrinkles and fine lines:
Reduced collagen production and skin elasticity can result in the development of wrinkles and fine lines, particularly around the eyes, mouth, and forehead. - Sagging skin:
Loss of skin elasticity can lead to sagging skin, especially in the cheeks, jawline, and neck. - Age spots:
Hormonal changes can also affect melanin production, leading to the development of age spots and hyperpigmentation. - Sensitivity:
Changes in the skin barrier function can make the skin more prone to irritation, redness, and inflammation.
Perimenopause skincare
When oestrogen levels drop, your skin can be affected by the change in hormone levels, as it becomes less hydrated and elastic.
At Mulberry House Clinic, we often see women who are surprised by the changes to their skin, which make tried and tested skincare products suddenly less effective or even counterproductive.
To help mitigate the effects of oestrogen depletion and maintain healthy skin during perimenopause, it is important to establish a skincare routine that focuses on hydration, protection, and collagen support.
This may include using moisturisers with hyaluronic acid and other ingredients to boost hydration as well as powerful retinoids or peptides to support collagen production and skin renewal.
Wearing sunscreen daily is a must to protect against UV damage, reducing the risk of hyperpigmentation or age spots.
Mulberry House Clinic offers a range of medical-grade skincare products with active ingredients that are not available on the high street. Prescription cosmeceuticalas can achieve remarkable results in improving the health and appearance of the skin. Ranges include Cellderma and ZO Skin Health.
The best place to start is with a skincare consultation. The team at Mulberry House Clinic are fully trained in skin assessment and able to diagnose the issues in order to recommend the most suitable treatment plan.
Perimenopause skin treatments
The priorities for skin treatments can also change dramatically. Very often, women find that condition and health of the skin can become more of an issue as well as its external appearance. It becomes more apparent that issues such as lines, wrinkles, texture and sun damage are all part of the greater picture.
It’s a great time to review the role of professional skin treatments.
- Treatments to boost skin repair
- Polynucleotides are relatively new, but have revolutionised the way experts treat skin. They are an injectable skin treatment which is specifically designed to help tissue repair. Potential benefits include improvements in skin quality, thickness, hydration, as well as new collagen formation.
- Treatments to improve hydration
- Profhilo Injections are designed to improve hydration and moisture retention, improving the condition of the skin
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can be used to promote better texture and hydration
- Treatments to improve volume and lift
- Dermal fillers to tackle lines and creases
- Non-surgical facelift uses dermal fillers in a more structural way, to restore and lift sagging skin tissues
- 8-point face lift and Multi-Point face lift provide a lift to the whole face without surgery
- Treatments to improve pigmentation
- High-tech energy-based treatments to stimulate skin renewal. We offer both Laser skin resurfacing and IPL skin treatment
- Chemical peels/microdermabrasion to strip away the outer skin cells to reveal new skin
- Tixel® Thermal Fractional Rejuvenation uses heat rather than lasers or injections can can improve areas of darker pigmentation
Can HRT improve your skin?
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can potentially improve your skin in a few ways:
- Increased collagen production:
HRT can help stimulate the production of collagen, which can improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. - Improved hydration:
Hormones play a role in regulating skin hydration, so balancing hormone levels through HRT can help improve skin hydration and overall skin health. - Reduced acne:
For some individuals, hormonal imbalances can contribute to acne breakouts. HRT can help regulate hormone levels and reduce acne flare-ups. - Enhanced skin tone:
HRT can help improve skin tone and texture, making the skin appear more radiant and youthful.
It stands to reason that tackling hormone depletion itself can help with the symptoms of the perimenopause/menopause. In some ways, it can be thought of as a supplement.
However, HRT is a prescription medication and it’s important to note that the effects of HRT on skin can vary from person to person. It’s always best to consult with your GP or a suitably qualified healthcare provider to determine if HRT is right for you and to discuss potential benefits and risks.
Any medication is discussed as part of your medical history during the consultation, to ensure that our doctor has full understanding before recommending the most appropriate treatment plan. As a former GP, Dr John Tanqueray is well qualified to understand the impact of HRT or any other treatments you are having for perimenopause or menopausal symptoms.
In conclusion…
Happily, there is much more awareness nowadays around the difficulties women experience with the perimenopause and menopause. Thanks to media coverage and in particular Davina Mccall‘s documentaries, the whole journey is much better understood than even a few years ago. It’s something we’re happier to talk about.
Whatever your skincare history, it’s a good time to review.
At Mulberry House Clinic, you’ll find a medically qualified and highly experienced team who have the knowledge, products and treatments to help.
Mulberry House Clinic
Established 2003
Mulberry House Clinic has an excellent reputation in the Northampton area as an independent, doctor-led practice with over 17 years experience. Cosmetic skin treatments are carried out by Dr John Tanqueray, who works closely with leading manufacturers to remain at the forefront of the medical aesthetics.
For further information or to arrange a confidential consultation, please complete our contact form, call 01604 702630 or email: info@mulberryhouseclinic.co.uk.
