In an alternate, more just universe, the end of our periods might be cause for celebration. No more monthly cramps, breakouts, and bloating! Goodbye pink-taxed tampons and birth control copays! But instead of catching a break, we get menopause—a time characterized by sweating, hair loss, and weight gain. Another unwelcome symptom? Accelerated aging. But if you know what to look out for, you can go into perimenopause prepared to tackle the changes caused by a decrease in estrogen. We asked two derms what actually happens to the skin during this time and whether you should switch to a skin-care regimen designed exclusively to address the effects of hormone deficiency. <\/p>
Menopause is the period at which a woman’s menstrual cycles stop, caused by a depletion in the estrogen hormone. It’s diagnosed 12 months after the last menstruation and typically occurs when women are in their 40s and 50s. Experts have identified at least 34 symptoms<\/a> associated with menopause and the years leading up to it (perimenopause), but the most common ones<\/a> include hot flashes, a lowered sex drive, vaginal dryness, and chills. <\/p> Decreased levels of estrogen in the body can have dramatic effects on the skin. According to Dr. Jessie Cheung<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist in Willowbrook, Illinois, estrogen “nourishes and protects” the skin, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and the cells that promote keratin production and tissue repair. “Estrogen supports collagen production and blood flow, [helps] maintains epidermal hydration, skin elasticity, and skin thickness, and accelerates wound healing.” When the hormone starts depleting during perimenopause—which Dr. Cheung says can happen as early as 15 years before menopause—”it manifests on the skin as a decrease in glow and hydration.” As estrogen continues to plummet, skin aging is greatly accelerated; “30% of collagen is lost during the first five years of menopause, and 2% of collagen is lost every year after, during postmenopause,” she explains. <\/p>What happens to the skin during menopause?<\/strong><\/h2>