If you've dealt with any of the following issues during or after menopause, you aren't alone. Here are some of the most common changes that occur in your skin (and other areas!) during menopause, and how to deal with them.
HAIR FALLS OUT OF YOUR SCALP—AND GROWS ON YOUR FACE
Hormones are the number one culprit for most of your menopausal misery, and your hair is one of the areas it shows first. Lower estrogen and progesterone levels mean a thinner mane and a shorter telogen phase for your hair. And ironically, it also means more hair growth on your lower face (i.e. around the mouth and chin). To address the facial hair, waxing is one option but I would advise against this for anyone with thinner, dry skin. Laser hair removal is the best option for most, and will have the best long term result. To stimulate hair regrowth on your scalp, I recommend Nutrafol supplements and platelet-rich plasma scalp injections (PRP). Both options can be done on their own or combined for a more obvious result.
BRUISING OCCURS EASILY
Hair isn't the only thing that low estrogen levels can thin out—you'll start to notice your skin has become thinner, too. Thin skin is more susceptible to unsightly, painful bruising. Retinoids are effective at strengthening skin and applying sunscreen will prevent additional thinning. Topical advance bruise relief is also an option with this.
AGE SPOTS APPEAR
All of your days spent sunbathing and swimming during the summer with little or no sunscreen on are going to start appearing in the form of brown age spots on your skin. This is also when pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions start to become more frequent. Forever Young BBL or Fraxel will quickly address any brown spots you're trying to get rid of, and now is the time to make bi-annual skin cancer screenings a regular part of your medical appointments. In between appointments, get yourself familiar with any existing marks on your body so that you'll notice if anything changes or needs more urgent medical attention.
PIMPLES!
This one is sort of a cruel joke. We can't think of anything much worse than fighting pimples AND wrinkles at the same time, but sometimes this is what menopause throws our way when our hormones are out of whack. Since the acne treatments you used during your youth are far too harsh for menopausal skin, try cleansers that contain salicylic acid, and make sure they are nourishing and moisturizing and won't strip your skin. Retinols may also be helpful at balancing out your skin, so if you aren't currently using one you can pick up one here. If you still just can't get the acne under control, emergency steroid injections can be administered to get rid of zits quickly.
VAGINAL CHANGES OCCUR
This one is a little more common and expected, but it doesn't make the changes that can occur in your vaginal any more comfortable. The main issue will be dryness, as your estrogen levels drop and lubrication decreases. This dryness can lead to thinning in the vaginal wall, which can lead to tearing during sex. You may also notice a change in odor, shape, and increased prevalence of UTIs. Topical solutions like Anteage VRS can address a lot of the discomfort, increase moisture levels, and improve the micro-environment in your vagina. If the condition is worsening to the point where topical solutions are no longer effective, I recommend CO2RE Intima to regenerate vaginal tissue with minimal downtime.
SLACK JOWLS AND WRINKLES
This is a frequent issue with aging in general because our skin can lose its ability to retain moisture, the fat pads beneath our facial skin can start to deteriorate and slip downward, and our muscle and bone mass can also decrease with age. If you want to avoid going the route of a facelift, we recommend facial fillers or laser treatments such as Fraxel and CO2 Laser Resurfacing to smooth out wrinkles, and treatments like Ultherapy or Profound to naturally plump your skin back up and lift sagging jowls. Ultherapy and Profound stimulate your body's own collagen and elastin production with strong results that can last for years. They are both non-invasive, and come with no downtime. PDO Threads are another option for an instant lift. However, threads are semi-invasive and come with a short period of downtime.
RASHES & IRRITATED SKIN
PH levels in your skin will start to change around age 50, and if you have rosacea or eczema it might worsen. To mitigate this, switch to fragrance-free moisturizers if you having already. Vbeam is also a great option for inflamed skin due to rosacea and will greatly reduce redness. Topical treatments are available for other conditions such as rashes and atopic dermatitis.
WOUNDS HEAL SLOWLY
Hormones are part of our body's healing system, so when hormone levels drop it may take more time for scratches and bruises to heal. While there isn't much you can do to prevent this from happening, you should take extra steps to prevent infection and keep any stubborn wounds clean and covered until they close.
If you're dealing with any of the effects of menopause and you're getting frustrated with the discomfort, schedule an appointment today to see what treatments will work best for you by calling 561-805-9399 or emailing info@supriyamd.com
