Hormonal changes can play havoc with our skin as we get older, especially in the perimenopause and menopause years.

These changes aren't the same for every woman, and they don't all begin at once.

During the perimenopause and menopause, the most notable hormonal change is a decline of oestrogen levels.

Oestrogen affects every tissue and organ of the human body, skin included, so the decline of oestrogen in perimenopause and menopause can cause the following symptoms:

Dermatologist and founder of Meder Beauty Science Dr Tiina Meder explained the best way to look after your skin during perimenopause and menopause is a "considered daily skincare routine".

"Using a gentle cleanser will help preserve the skins barrier function and prevent dryness and sensitivity," she said.

"Antioxidant-rich moisturisers, packed with prebiotics, will help keep skin hydrated and protected, simultaneously restoring and preserving the skins microbiome.

"Facial oils will also help to compensate lipid deficiency, while weekly exfoliation will help stimulate skin renewal.

Perimenopausal and menopausal skin is more sensitive to sun exposure.

"The maintenance of melanocytes the cells that manufacture the pigment melanin - is controlled by oestrogen," said Dr Meder.

"During the perimenopause and menopause, the number of melanocytes in your skin reduces andoestrogenlevels decline. As a result, less protective melanin is produced, making the skin appear lighter.

"As melanin helps protect the skin from the environmental damage and sun exposure, a decline in the production of melanin results in skin that is more prone to damage from sun exposure.

"As a consequence, it is very important to protect the skin regularly and correctly the second these hormonal changes appear."

When choosing skincare products thatll protect and repair skin during the perimenopause and menopause, Dr Meder recommends looking out for the following ingredients:

Moisturisers- hyaluronic acid, glycerine, carrageenan, chondrus crispus extract, gluconolactone and others.

Fatty acids and lipids- primrose, apricot, olive, macadamia, sweet almond, argan, borago, canola, meadowfoam, sunflowers, and sesame oil, as well as shea butter, squalane, cacao and, in some cases, coconut butter.

Prebiotics and probiotics- alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, inulin, and others, including some bacterial ferments and lysates (alteromonas filtrate, lactobacillus lysate, and saccharomyces).

Antioxidants- resveratrol, green tea, aloe barbadensis, rosemary and wild carrot extracts, vitamin E and C, and beta-carotene.

Remodelers- EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) and others growth factors, plant stem cells, and peptides (Matrixyl-3000, Rigin, Syn-Tack and others).

Anti-inflammatories- centella asiatica, aloe barbadensis, green tea, calendula officinalis and chamomilla recutita extracts, panthenol, peptide skinasensyl, and albatrellus ovinus.

Microcirculation and capillary strengtheners- niacinamide (vitamin B3), caffeine, horse chestnut extract, and escin.

"Some ingredients - such as retinol or hydroxyl acids - can potentially increase the sensitivity of the skin, cause dryness, or increase ultraviolet sensitivity during the perimenopause and menopause," she went on.

"Sadly, many of these ingredients can actually help perimenopausal andmenopausal skin in many ways by improving the renewal process, lightening pigmentation, decreasing the appearance of wrinkles, and helping restore skin elasticity.

"Luckily, there are some great alternatives to these more aggressive ingredients. For example, retinol and retinol derivatives can be replaced with bakuchiol a natural ingredient that acts in a similar way to retinol - promoting the same benefits but with no side effects."

"Studies have found that HRT can provide several benefits to the skin. The reduction of oestrogen levels during the menopause has a detrimental effect on the skin, so it can be corrected, at least in part, through the early use of HRT in perimenopause.

"When HRT is introduced in the perimenopause period, skin dryness and sensitivity have been shown to be prevented. In addition, long-term use of HRT has been shown to restore the skins water-holding capacity and barrier function of the epidermis.

"Some studies have also found that HRT can control, in part, the dermal thickness and laxity, collagen content and density, as well as the skins mechanical properties and stress reaction."

Go here to read the rest:
Doctor explains what happens to your skin during the menopause and the best products to treat it - RSVP Live

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