It’s all well and good to say there are simple measures to control, relieve or avoid menopause flareups and sensitivities – but we don’t always realise we have them to begin with! Find out what we recommend when women start seeing changes in their skin around the beginning of menopause.
When stressed or travelling, my skin becomes really dry and red and sore especially around the mouth and chin area. It might be due to being on The Pill and I think I am peri-menopausal.
Donna | TAS | age 41
- This is quite a common set of questions we receive. Skin has often been trouble free throughout life and then BOOM – along comes the hormone changes and the skin becomes sensitive and many of the signs of ageing rear up giving people a shock. They often have no idea where to turn or even that they are suffering menopause flareups and sensitivities. Step one could be to have hormone levels checked by her GP. This will tell her if she is truly beginning the change. It’s also good to have a general health check every year once you hit a certain age. 😊 After that it’s about focusing on general health and mental well being – along with some special skin care of course!!
Donna has mentioned 3 factors which are influencing the health of her skin:
- Stress
- Travel – I’m assuming air travel
- Hormones
And yes, each one of them can have the effect she is experiencing, however they are really all based on the same problem. Menopause Flareups and Sensitivities.
Her skin at age 41 has enjoyed life.
It is almost impossible to reach the middle years and not have significant (even if not visible) sun damage and this coupled with the natural ageing process, dehydrates the skin which makes it very difficult for it to function optimally. This is expressed in Donna’s skin as redness and irritability. The reason, I believe she feels it most around her chin and mouth area is because her hormones are creating havoc and it is in this area they generally exhibit.
When her skin is put under extra stress, whether it be physical or mental, cortisol and adrenaline step up and in her case may always be up, seldom returning to their normal states. This puts a lot of pressure on everything in her body and could well be affecting her reproductive hormones. These are all influenced by her gut health and so that’s actually where she needs to start her journey so she can continue through the menopause years, have nice feeling skin when she travels and is essentially not reactive and sensitive any more.
It’s time to change lifestyle choices
Lifestyle changes due to menopause flareups and sensitivities include eating a really good diet with lots of oily fish, some red meat, huge amounts of greens and other veggies and fruit. In Donna’s case I would recommend a pre and pro-biotic which will help to change how her skin is being influenced by her gut. Let’s not let those hormones affect life as well as skin!
And drinking at least 2 litres of water a day, ensuring sufficient sleep is had and that stress levels are managed. It’s not easy to get started, but once the effects are felt Donna will be hooked and I hope she travels to lovely places with skin which is gorgeous!
These Skin Care products which will give her almost immediate relief include…
Recommended Routine for Menopause Flareups and Sensitivities
Morning
- Cleanser – CosMedix Elite Gentle Clean – keep your cleanser gentle
- Antioxidants – Aspect Dr Redless – relieve your red skin
- Moisturiser – CosMedix Rescue Balm – very anti-inflammatory
- Sun-protection – Aspect Hydra Shield unless very dry – then use CosMedix Hydrate +
Evening
- Cleanser – CosMedix Elite Gentle Clean
- Vitamin A Serum – Osmosis MD Calm – add in overnight after 4 weeks of using the other products.
- DNA Serum & Antioxidants – Osmosis StemFactor Serum first then their Osmosis MD Rescue Serum
- Moisturiser – CosMedix Rescue Balm
- Mask 1-2 x per week – Aspect Probiotic Sleep Mask – also wear this on all long haul flights!! I have clients who have done this and they say the results at the other end are terrific!
Travelling – take a hydrating spray with you. These are based on heavy water which helps with penetration, even through makeup and also contain many antioxidants and will make a significant difference at the other end for you. CosMedix Mystic, Osmosis Infuse or Osmosis Boost. Also follow the die-hard rules of no alcohol, try to sleep and drink heaps of water throughout the trip.
Recommended Reading on Menopause Flareups and Sensitivities
Because it’s such a complex issue – there are a few!!!
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/menopause/
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/gut-health-and-your-skin/
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/growth-factors-in-skin-care/
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/aging-the-effect-of-the-sun-on-our-skin/
I have always had great skin, never a pimple in my teens or when I was pregnant, and now I’m 49 I’m getting pimples but my skin feels really dry and I find it hard to cover them up as makeup won’t sit on my skin well.
Jane | QLD | age 49
- Jane has a similar problem to Donna, it’s just showing itself differently in her skin. She is most likely treating the pimples with teen acne products, which is stripping it and producing a rebound effect of oil on her skin just making the problem worse. She needs to stop this and treat the dryness and dehydration in her skin as she manages stress, improves her diet and ensures she is sleeping well. A trip to the GP to check her hormone levels will tell her where she sits in the menopausal phase of her life and give her some control over what is happening. Once she is aware of her menopause flareups and sensitivities she can actually start properly addressing them for what they are.
Her skin care regime would follow the same guidelines as Donna’s, however she could begin on the Osmosis Calm immediately, mixing it with the Osmosis MD Rescue Serum at night.
The Osmosis StemFactor Serum could be used during the day, prior to the Aspect Dr Redless.
Use the CosMedix Rescue Balm just at night, though it can be used as a spot treatment for pimples at any time.
To help with makeup, applying Aspect Dr Hyaluronic Serum prior to her makeup will help and using the Osmosis Colour CC Cream won’t inflame her skin and should sit well.
Masks used weekly will really can help with all the menopausal skin needs: exfoliate gently, stimulate new cells, nourish and treat specific problems and rather than Donna’s mask I suggest the Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask 1-2 x week.
Recommended Routine
Morning
- Cleanser – CosMedix Elite Gentle Clean – keep your cleanser gentle
- DNA Serum & Antioxidants – Osmosis StemFactor Serum first then Aspect Dr Redless
- Moisturiser – Aspect Dr Hyaluronic Serum
- Sun-protection – Aspect Hydra Shield unless very dry – then use CosMedix Hydrate +
Evening
- Cleanser – CosMedix Elite Gentle Clean
- Vitamin A Serum & Antioxidants – Osmosis Calm mixed with Osmosis MD Rescue Serum
- Moisturiser – CosMedix Rescue Balm
- Mask 1-2 x per week – Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask
Recommended Reading
Because it’s such a complex issue – there are a few!!!
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/menopause/
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/gut-health-and-your-skin/
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/growth-factors-in-skin-care/
www.theskincareclinic.com.au/aging-the-effect-of-the-sun-on-our-skin/
Hopefully Jane’s skin, as with Donna’s will improve and continue to as they move into the next phase of their lives.
Still not sure?
If you need more help or would like personalised advice, book now for your consultation with a skin care advisor. Offering information on what skincare products are best for you. Check out our range of in-clinic services today.
Otherwise fill in the Online Skin Consultation. Our skin care advisor will happily help you. Choosing the right treatments and products for your skin type or concern.
Check out our latest Specials!
Leave a Reply