Skincare to invest in during menopause

Menopause which officially begins one year after a woman’s last period is known to make some changes to the skin. More than ever, it’s important to invest in the right skincare products to minimise the effects of menopause.

#1 Age spots and signs of sun damage

If you’ve spent much of your younger days in the sun, the effects of sun damage in the form of age spots and uneven skin discoloration may show up now on your face, hands, arms, neck and chest. It is now too that you should be more vigilant for skin cancer and pre-cancerous skin growth.

What to do

Continue to slather on sunscreen on a daily basis, not just to your face but to any part of the skin that will be exposed to the sun.

As your risk of getting skin cancer increases as you age, it’s important to see a dermatologist for skin cancer screening on a regular basis. The earlier this is detected, the better the chances of them being treated.

#2 Dry skin

As we get older, our bodies’ ability to hold water lessens, hence the higher likelihood for dry skin. This is especially noticeable when you live in a dry climate, as opposed to a more humid environment.

What to do

Use a gentle cleanser instead of soap as soaps are known to be more drying for the skin.  Be sure to also incorporate moisturisers into your daily skincare regime, especially one containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin.

#3 Facial hair

As female hormones start to dip during this phase, you might start to see hair growth in places like your chin and face where hair never grew before.

What to do

Thanks to laser hair removal treatments, unwanted body and facial hair can be easily removed once and for all, without pain and downtime.

#4 Hair loss

You win some and you lose some and this is never truer with hair growth during menopause. While you may start to see hair growth on your face and chin, you may also notice hair loss on your scalp.

What to do

When it comes to hair loss, it’s better to treat it sooner than later for a higher success rate. Invest in shampoos containing minoxidil, an FDA-approved ingredient for inhibiting hair loss and promoting hair growth.

Laser hair treatments are available too to help stimulate blood circulation in the scalp and encourage thicker hair growth.

#5 Slack skin and wrinkles

Without a doubt, one of the top concerns when it comes to aging is the loss of suppleness and firmness in one’s complexion. The process of aging causes collagen to deplete its stores. In fact studies have shown that women in the first five years of menopause lose about 30% of collagen and continue to lose 20% of their collagen every year after for the next 20 years.

This can cause deep wrinkles, sagginess in the skin and even the appearance of large pores.

What to do

Be diligent with sunscreen. This can never be emphasised enough. This will protect skin from sun damage and the expedient depletion of collagen in your skin.

Consider aesthetic options such as lasers and injectables that stimulate collagen production under your skin, to maintain a plumper, more supple visage.