Women fear menopause since it means getting old, in a way. But this period does not have to be so worried. You have to follow other cares both inside and out and adapt them to changes. During this stage, women’s hormones are altered, affecting both the body and the skin, which dries up, and wrinkles become more visible, among other aspects. The skin is a beautiful but very resistant tissue, and since it is exposed to external conditions, it must always be cared for, but during menopause, it needs more care. Getting older doesn’t mean stop taking care of yourself or looking worse. You can still have glowing skin during menopause if you want to know-how. In this FastlyHealarticle, we tell you how to take care of your skin during menopause.
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How Menopause Affects the Skin
Over time, the skin ages and appears thinner and laxer. In addition to wrinkles, pigmentation changes, and it loses healing properties, so it takes longer to repair. During menopause, hormones are altered and, therefore, also affect our skin.
The skin is thinner and drier.
Estrogens are the female hormones produced by the ovaries throughout a woman’s life. In menopause, estrogens drop considerably, and this causes lipids, water, and collagen to be lost, making it thinner and drier. In addition, she loses elasticity due to the loss of collagen and looks dehydrated from the loss of water. It is thinner also causes it to be injured more quickly and become more fragile.
Some spots appear
Estrogens control melanocytes, cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair that blocks ultraviolet rays. With menopause, the number of estrogens decreases, and they lose control over melanin, causing spots and lentigines (small dark-colored bumps that appear on the skin) to appear.
More wrinkles
Wrinkles begin to appear also due to the lack of elastin fibers and collagen, so the skin sags. In addition, it has more difficulty to heal and, therefore, wounds will take longer to heal.
However, the skin on the palms of the hands and feet becomes more challenging and dry, and therefore cracks may appear.
Although we cannot stop this process, we can help ensure that it does not affect us so much and that we keep our skin cared for and healthy. We will see some tips to follow to take care of your skin during menopause.
Hydration inside and out
As we have seen, during menopause, the skin loses water, making it dry, along with the sun’s rays. It is essential to hydrate it much more during menopause. Drink a lot of water. If you can, drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day better. This will help improve your skin and your body and help you eliminate toxins from the body. Water is a very healthy natural remedy that we leave forgotten most of the time. The skin is also cared for from the inside.
But it would be best if you did not forget to hydrate your skin on the outside with a good moisturizer. Ideally, apply it both day and night, and there are specific moisturizers for oily skin. However, if your skin still becomes too oily, use it better at night, as the hours of sleep will make your skin absorb all the cream without being exposed to factors such as the sun. And don’t forget to extend it around the neck as well. Use body lotion to keep your body skin hydrated when you get out of the shower. In the following article, you can see the best homemade moisturizers for the face.
For the area of the hands, it is also convenient to hydrate them so that they do not dry out and crack, and in the size of the feet, you can smooth rough edges with the pumice stone. Insert your feet for at least 20 minutes in warm water and a salt basin. Afterward, pat them dry with a towel and rub the pumice stone. Finish the treatment with a very moisturizing cream, and your feet will be like new.
Diet in menopause is important.
Diet is essential to take care of the skin in menopause, believe it or not. If the body is cared for on the inside, it shows on the outside, and many foods help to have healthier, supple, and luminous skin.
The best diet for menopause is one that is rich in fruit and vegetables and also provides vitamins A (antioxidant), C (which synthesizes collagen), and E (which fights free radicals).
In the following articles, you can find out about the best diet to lose weight in menopause and the best foods to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Say goodbye to tobacco.
Tobacco and alcohol are harmful habits, but they also contribute to skin aging. Avoid them as much as possible.
Tobacco causes vitamin A levels to decrease, which causes changes in the quantity and quality of collagen and elastin so that the skin appears duller, sallow in color, and more aged to the naked eye. In addition, it causes slower healing, which, added to menopause, will be even worse. You can see more details in the article Benefits of quitting smoking for skin and hair.
Exfoliate your skin
Another skincare in menopause that you should consider is exfoliation, which acts on the dermis, cleaning it more thoroughly and eliminating dry skin or excess sebum that forms, especially in menopause.
Use a mild or mild soap daily to cleanse your face and exfoliate once or twice a week. In this way, and together with hydration, the skin will regain its luminosity and strength. Use a gentle exfoliator that does not damage your skin and is even better if made with natural products. If you don’t have any or don’t want to buy it, you can mix a little sugar with water and rub it in circular motions over your face. Then wash it well with lukewarm water and gently pat dry with a towel. Finally, add a moisturizer, and you’re done.
Hygiene is paramount
Daily hygiene is essential, but it is not just washing your face in the morning. Use a cleansing gel or neutral soap to clean it better. It is also convenient to wash it at night before applying the moisturizer, even if you have not applied makeup. And if you wear makeup, it is even more critical that you spend some time before bed to eradicate your makeup. Use an eye make-up remover and another for the face with cotton, and then wash your face well.
For intimate hygiene, it is essential to use a soap with a neutral pH to avoid allergies and dryness. In addition, during menopause, the vaginal area is susceptible to vaginal atrophy and dryness, and more infections may appear, so it is essential to take extreme care. It is best to use hypoallergenic products.
Practice exercise
Exercise helps activate blood circulation, which will improve your skin and be very healthy for your body and prevent conditions such as osteoporosis.
Sun with caution
The sun is essential in menopause, as it helps to synthesize vitamin D and fix calcium in our bones. However, you must be careful not to expose yourself to the sun during the hours of maximum exposure and always use sun protection even if it is cloudy since the rays affect the skin the same.
The skin has memory, and the sun’s rays that burn can remain for a long time damaging the skin and not only that but aging it more quickly. The consequences manifest until years later, so you must be careful.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Skincare in menopause, we recommend that you enter our category of the Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.