Dealing With Menopause

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Menopause is associated with fluctuating hormone levels that can cause a plethora of medical issues.  The following article will help you determine if your skin condition may be associated with it.

Did you know that menopause could negatively affect your skin? During menopause, hormonal changes occur. Fluctuating hormone levels can cause a plethora of issues, including hot flashes, dry skin and other conditions. The following article will discuss how menopause can affect your skin and body.

Facial Hair Problems

When hormone levels begin to wane, women often develop facial hair. Many menopausal women begin to experience facial hair growth. Hair growth often occurs on the chin and upper lip; however, excess hair growth can occur on any spot on the body.

Thin Skin

Another condition that menopausal women may experience is a thinning epidermis. Blood flow is reduced during menopause because the capillaries in the skin are controlled by estrogen. As estrogen begins to decrease, your skin thins due to lack of oxygen rich blood. Additionally, as blood flow diminishes, the nutrients the body supplies to the skin begin to diminish. Finally, cellular reproduction slows because of lack of estrogen to the skin.

Wrinkles

Estrogen loss is responsible for weight gain and wrinkles. Estrogen stimulates fat deposits, which is needed for healthy skin. However, when estrogen levels begin to plummet, the fat that was being sent to the skin to nourish it is redistributed to other areas of the body, including buttocks, thighs and abdomen.

Oily Skin and Acne

Did you know that many menopausal women suffer with acne? As estrogen levels decrease, testosterone levels increase causing many skin conditions, including oily skin and acne. The sebaceous glands begin to secrete a thicker sebum that makes the skin appear to be oilier and acne to occur more often.

Age Spots and Sun Damage

As melanin production declines, hyperpigmentation can occur. Skin that has been damaged by the sun's UV rays may begin to show signs of aging, including those brown age spots that occur in the elderly. Additionally, as the melanin begins to decline, women are more prone to receiving sun damage. Therefore, it is essential that a woman going through menopause apply a high quality sunscreen every day before going outside. For best results, apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outdoors. Remember, sunscreen will need to be reapplied throughout the day to protect against further damage.

Hair Loss and Menopause

In addition to the symptoms discussed above, menopause may cause alopecia. Alopecia is simply another name for hair loss. About a third of menopausal women develop some sort of hair loss. This hair loss often occurs in the frontal portion of the scalp.

Flushing

Most women during the peri-menopausal stage experience some sort of flushing. This flushing often occurs in the upper chest, face or neck regions of the body. The flushing lasts approximately 30 seconds to 5 minutes and may be accompanied by sweating, heart palpitation and anxiety.

As you can see, many skin issues can be caused by menopause. Anytime hormonal shifts occur, a woman is prone to having medical issues. Use the guide above to help you determine if your skin condition may be associated with menopause.

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