Menopausal Acne 1 of 2 Surprising Skin Problems

 

During your reproductive years, the hormone estrogen helps to keep your skin healthy and supple.
Once estrogen production decreases, your skin thins and dries out, especially in sensitive areas like your face.
The loss of estrogen can show on your skin starting during perimenopause.
It can lead to the following:

1. Dryness & itchiness

Itchy skin is a common condition experienced during menopause.
Around 50, the pH level of our skin changes and with this change, skin becomes more sensitive and you are more likely to develop rashes and have easily irritated skin.
At the same time the level of estrogen in your body falls, so does the amount of collagen and skin-moistening oils produced, causing your skin to become dry and irritated.
You can end up with a rash or hives, especially if you are exposed to irritating substances, such as perfumes, itchy fabrics, and dyes.
Besides itchiness, you may experience tingling, prickling, or numbness of the skin.

Home remedies you can try to alleviate itchiness

Use a cool compress
Apply a cool, wet compress to the itchy area to help soothe irritation.
You can also cover the itchy area with a damp towel overnight if the itching disturbs your sleep.

Take an oatmeal bath
It can help to bathe in colloidal oatmeal, which is oatmeal that is in a fine powder form.
When added to water, it enables the skin to absorb the cellulose and fiber contained within the oats easily, softening and soothing the skin.

Moisturize regularly
Alleviate dryness and itchiness by moisturizing the skin after a bath or shower, to help lock in moisture into the outermost layer of the skin.

Prevention of itchiness during menopause

Avoid hot baths or showers
As these can strip your skin of essential oils, leaving your skin dry and scratchy.
Lukewarm water is better suited for irritable skin.

Pat yourself dry after bathing
Patting skin lightly instead of rubbing it after a bath or shower can help to prevent itchy skin.

Avoid scratching
Scratching the itch can tear and damage the skin further, especially if it is already sensitive or inflamed.

Use scent-free skincare
Scented soaps and perfumes often contain harsh chemicals that can further irritate the skin.
Choose instead perfume-free soaps and cleansers.

Reduce alcohol and nicotine intake
Both have a drying-out effect on the skin and can cause premature skin aging.

Wear soft, loose fabrics
Go for natural fibers such as cotton, that are less likely to irritate skin than synthetic fibers which can also cling to the skin.

Avoid strong sunlight
UV sun rays can further irritate dry, itchy, or sensitive skin.
Use a broad-spectrum sunblock suitable for sensitive skin.

Stay hydrated
Water is super important for keeping the skin healthy and preventing dull, itchy skin.

 

2. Menopausal acne & increased facial hair

Hormonal changes are one of the biggest reasons for acne, so it comes as no surprise that acne can occur during perimenopause and menopause.
Menopausal acne’s symptoms can be different from regular acne in that it mainly occurs around the mouth, chin, and jawline.
Another side note to menopausal acne is that it often manifests along with excess facial hair, especially on the chin and upper lip.

Because of the fall of estrogen levels, it throws off the delicate balance of androgens, particularly testosterone.
A rise in testosterone results in oily skin and clogged pores and also causes increased facial hair growth.
This is why this type of acne shows up on the lower face.

Prevention of menopausal acne

Monitor stress levels
While this is obviously easier said than done, reducing stress as much as possible during and after menopause, can go a long way in preventing menopause acne.

Limit foods and drinks that contain sugar, dairy, red meat, and refined carbs

Natural treatment of menopausal acne

Tea tree oil
If your acne is mild to moderate, tea tree oil can help to reduce inflammation.
It needs to be diluted with a carrier oil and a skin patch test needs to be done prior to use.

Alpha hydroxy acid
These are plant acids derived from citrus fruits and can help to remove excess dead skin cells that clog the pores.
Skin can become more sun-sensitive, so it’s important to apply sunscreen when using AHA products.

Green tea
This tea is known for helping to decrease inflammation in the body

 

Other treatments for menopausal acne

Spironolactone
This is an oral medication also used to treat high blood pressure, and one of the most often used as a treatment of menopausal acne.
It is an anti-androgen medication that blocks the androgen receptors in the skin, helping to prevent both acne and excess facial hair growth.

Oral contraceptive pills
These can also help to regulate hormone levels but should only be used when prescribed by your gynecologist, as there are potential side effects in menopausal women.

Topical creams
It is important to seek out gentle formulas to help minimize the likelihood of increased dryness and irritation, as regular topical creams can make your dry skin even drier.

Sources
aad.org – caring for your skin in menopause
mayoclinic.org – adult acne can natural hormone treatment help
medicalnewstoday.com – can menopause cause itching
medicalnewstoday.com – how to get rid of bruises