Aside from comments about dryness, wrinkles, and fine lines, menopausal acne is rarely talked about. You thought you got rid of that annoying boyfriend in high school, didn’t you?
But the good news is that the silver lining for unabashedly silver-haired ladies is that with a personalized approach and the right skincare routine, you can easily prevent the onset of midlife acne. Let’s (briefly) break down the known causes and prevention options to guide you through this problem.
The cause.
Big hormonal changes, of course. But let’s expand on that. The female hormone estrogen drops rapidly during menopause (both perimenopause and postmenopause), disrupting the delicate balance of androgens, especially testosterone, which had previously worked so well together to produce a calm and healthy complexion. When estrogen levels drop, testosterone increases, leading to increased sebum production, which can lead to constipation. A small group of facial hair also forms on the chin at this time, as most of the androgen receptors are located in this lower area of the face.
Our old friends estrogen and testosterone are two of the same sex hormones that can cause skin problems during important life stages like puberty, early adulthood, and pregnancy. During these times, however, estrogen is more of an ebb and flow, fluctuating one way or the other, in stark contrast to the dramatic drop in estrogen during menopause.
As any woman who has gone through or is going through menopause will quickly discover, stress is also a key factor in this life change. This systemic response to the reproductive organs typically occurs and essentially ceases between the ages of 45 and 55, when your career may have peaked, you’re raising excitable teenagers, and you’re embracing that newfound confidence and desire while maintaining healthy relationships. An increase in the stress hormone cortisol often manifests itself during flare-ups. Trying to make your lifestyle more calm during these years is essential for your skin health and overall well-being.
Prevention.
The most effective treatments for menopausal acne focus on trying to correct the hormonal imbalances mentioned above, which often means taking an inside-out approach. After a visit or 74 with your trusted primary care physician (which we highly recommend), you may be prescribed anti-androgen medications to stop these acne-causing, facial hair-growth-inducing hormones from overreacting.
On a more surface level, your usual acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide and retinol may help, but you should be careful with these ingredients, as they can make dry skin (which is also common during menopause) even drier. Instead or in conjunction with these treatments, look for gentle products/ingredients that are known to deeply nourish and intensely hydrate.
AHAs – your “Aha!” moment when establishing an effective skincare routine during menopause. They dissolve the glue that holds skin cells together, speeding up cell turnover. Increased cell turnover = new skin cells and a powerful glow. We recommend incorporating them into your nightly skincare routine 2-3 times per week to keep pores clear and unclogged.
Ceramides (which occur naturally in the skin, but their production slowly declines after 30 years) are excellent moisturizers for dry skin, helping to plump, restore, and protect this barrier. Found in rich moisturizers and face masks, ceramides strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and help regulate oil production.
Don’t oversleep hyaluronic acid—it’s like giving your confused menopausal skin a big glass of water. The molecular weight of hyaluronic acid allows it to easily penetrate the skin, attracting and retaining moisture for maximum plumping and firming results. Once hyaluronic acid is absorbed into the skin, it stays there and continues to attract and lock in moisture. What’s not to like about that?
A menopausal skin-care routine should be based on three basic principles: be gentle, lock in moisture, and prevent moisture loss. This decade or so will really test the integrity of your skin, so lean on these super-nourishing solutions to ensure a happy, healthy, calm face (and don’t forget, your face ends at your breasts).
