How to take care of your skin after menopause

As you grow older, with each passing day, your wisdom and confidence increases, allowing you to navigate through life with a more profound sense of grace and dignity. Unfortunately that is not the case with some of your hormone levels. Once you reach a certain age, every woman’s body goes through a time called menopause. It is defined as going one year without having your menstrual period. 

The time leading up to menopause is a significantly difficult time for many women, and can take a huge toll on their mental and physical well being. The period cycle starts to become irregular, and the flow is heavy and painful. It is coupled with fatigue, hot flashes and even mood swings. It can also cause the skin to become dry, thin and dull. 

So while the treatment and management of the rest is best advised by a gynecologist, here we’ll be discussing some ways you can keep your skin in better shape while going through a menopause. So keep on reading. 

Your skin and menopause

Menopause is inevitible and will happen to anyone that has a uterus. During menopause, your skin will go through major changes that are hard to miss and you might not be able to prevent them but you can take steps to make your skin look its best even with the ongoing menopause. 

During menopause, your skin stops producing as much collagen as it used to during your younger days. Collagen is what gives the skin its plumpness and structure. Due to less collagen, your skin starts losing its firmness and elasticity, causing the cheeks to sag and fine lines and wrinkles to become more visibly pronounced, especially around the neck and jawline area.

Estrogen levels, a hormone which produces oil and enabled the skin to hold and lock in moisture, also drops downs during menopause which makes the skin extremely dry and flaky. Some ladies might also notice acne breakouts becoming more frequent due to the drop in estrogen levels.

How to care for your skin during menopause

You might not be able to prevent menopause from taking a toll on your skin but you can definitely make some tweaks in your skincare routine to manage the after effects of menopause on your skin. Let us look at some major changes that you can make in your skincare routine to mitigate the effects of the menopause.

• Clean up: As you age, cleansing your skin becomes the most vital part of your skin care routine because with aging your skin becomes drier and can use all the extra moisture it can get. When shopping for your skin care products, make sure to buy the cleanser that works best for dry skin and instead of foam or gel cleanser that strips away the moisture, go for creamy cleansers. Also, look for cleansers that have salicylic acid as it helps in keeping the hormonal acne at bay. We recommend the Leovard Multicleanser for a job done well. This cleanser contains salicylic acid which means it works wonderfully well at combating the hormonal acne that you might face during menopause.

• Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate: Hydration of the skin is a must for every skin type. After menopause, your skin becomes dry because your oil producing glands are no longer very active. Try to give your skin more moisture by using a moisturizer which contains hyaluronic acid as it helps in retaining and locking in moisture in the skin, adding suppleness and plumpness to sagging skin. It also promotes the synthesis of collagen, further aiding in giving the face a structure and making fine lines less visible. Applying a moisturizer on damp skin is the best way to use one as this helps in boosting moisture levels. The Leovard Multicream, packed with hydrating and nourishing ingredients as well as several powerful antioxidants is a great option! 

• Do not skip SPF: One of the main factors leading to early aging is sun exposure and not using sunscreen. As you grow older, your skin’s natural protection may be less than when you were younger. As you are exposed to the sun's harmful UV rays that contribute to the aging process, you're more likely to develop dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. This is where the SPF comes into the skin care routine and it must not be skipped under any circumstances. Make sure to use an SPF that is broad spectrum 30 or higher.

• Take care of your hands: As you age, your skin loses its moisture, collagen and fat, which makes the veins at the back of your hand more popping and visible, making it seem more wrinkled. Taking care of your hands is as important as taking care of your face. So while moisturizing and applying sunscreen, don’t forget your hands as well. 

• Avoid consuming alcohol: According to a research, women who consume too much of alcohol can make their menopause symptoms worse. It can trigger hot flashes, mood swings and even insomnia. Drinking too much of alcohol during menopause can also increase the chances of cancer and heart problem. So go easy on it, or rather, opt for beverages that make your skin more youthful and radiant like fresh juices and herbal teas.

Takeaway

Every menstruating person will go through the process of menopause. A clear understanding of what your skin goes through during the process and having a proper skincare regime in place, coupled with a healthy lifestyle, will help you cater to all the skin related problems and will keep them at bay for as long as possible.