During perimenopause, the phase leading up to menopause, your skin undergoes significant changes, primarily due to fluctuating and declining hormone levels, especially estrogen. Estrogen is vital for skin health, and its reduction can impact the skin's appearance, resilience, and overall condition.
What Happens to Your Skin During Perimenopause?
During perimenopause, the phase leading up to menopause, your skin undergoes significant changes, primarily due to fluctuating and declining hormone levels, especially estrogen. Estrogen is vital for skin health, and its reduction can impact the skin's appearance, resilience, and overall condition.
Here's a detailed breakdown of what happens to your skin during perimenopause:
- Increased Dryness and Itchiness: Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining your skin's natural oils and moisture. As estrogen levels drop, your skin becomes less capable of retaining water, leading to noticeable dryness, irritation, and sometimes itchiness. This decrease in oil production also weakens the skin's protective barrier, making it more vulnerable to irritants and allergens. Many women report experiencing dry skin and itching during this period.
- Loss of Collagen and Elasticity: Collagen and elastin are essential proteins that give your skin its structure, plumpness, and elasticity. Estrogen is a key stimulator of collagen production, so its decline during perimenopause results in a significant reduction in collagen levels. It's estimated that women can lose as much as 30% of their skin collagen within the first five years after menopause, followed by an approximate 2% annual decrease for the next two decades. This loss leads to thinner, less dense, and more fragile skin, resulting in increased fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and a loss of facial definition, particularly around the jawline.
- Thinning Skin and Increased Fragility: The reduction in collagen also makes your skin thinner and more delicate. This can make your skin more susceptible to bruising and can slow down the healing process for wounds or blemishes.
- Acne Breakouts: Hormonal fluctuations are a significant trigger for acne during perimenopause, even for those who didn't experience severe acne in their younger years. A decline in estrogen can lead to a relative increase in androgens (male sex hormones), which can stimulate increased sebum (oil) production and clog pores. Perimenopausal acne often appears on the lower face, such as the chin and jawline, and can manifest as deep, painful cystic pimples. Stress and sleep disturbances, which are common during perimenopause, can also worsen breakouts by elevating cortisol levels and, consequently, oil production. A survey indicated that 30% of women in perimenopause or menopause experienced spots or acne.
- Increased Sensitivity and Redness: Hormonal changes can heighten your skin's sensitivity, making it more prone to irritation and inflammation. Hot flashes, a common perimenopausal symptom, can also cause temporary redness and discoloration.
- Changes in Pigmentation: Some women may notice an increase in age spots or uneven skin tone during perimenopause due to hormonal shifts. Additionally, long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays contributes to the breakdown of elastin, further affecting skin elasticity.
In summary, the skin undergoes a variety of changes during perimenopause, primarily driven by the reduction in estrogen, leading to dryness, loss of firmness, increased wrinkles, thinning, and a propensity for acne breakouts.
Building a Perimenopause Skincare Routine:
- Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser such as the Refining Foam Cleanser to prevent excess dryness and avoid stripping sensitive skin.
- Apply a serum formulated with peptides, vitamin C, or retinol. Shop Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum or Mystro Revive Renewing Serum for an anti-aging treatment that targets the skin changes commonly associated with perimenopause.
- Pick a rich, hydrating cream with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides to deeply moisturize and soothe skin. Try Trio Luxe Moisture Treatment for rich hydration.
- Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide can be optimal for sensitive or redness-prone skin.
skinbetter science Target Treatments for Perimenopause and Menopause
Perimenopause and the hormonal fluctuations that come with it can contribute to visible changes in your skin including dullness, dryness, loss of elasticity and increased irritation. During this delicate time for your skin health, our Mystro Revive Renewing Serum can become a critical step in your skincare routine. This serum from skinbetter science is formulated to directly target the skin concerns often associated with these hormone fluctuations. Tested on women experiencing perimenopause and menopause, Mystro Revive Renewing Serum is specially formulated with our P.A.T.H.[13] adaptogen technology to deliver visible improvement in your skin’s elasticity, hydration and luminosity, reviving the youthful appearance you desire.
Learn more about this skincare technology and try Mystro Revive Renewing Serum for your skin’s unique needs during perimenopause.
