Skin care tips for postmenopausal skin

The postmenopausal period is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycle. It is a natural biological process. During menopause, lower estrogen levels have a major impact on your skin. Less estrogen makes you prone to drier skin, more skin sagging and wrinkles. Fortunately, you can reduce the skin-related effects of aging by using more specific skin care products. With the aim of making menopausal and postmenopausal skin glow.

Your postmenopausal skin

During menopause, the amount of estrogen in the body decreases. This has direct consequences for the skin. Among other things, estrogen stimulates the production of collagen, a structural protein that gives the skin firmness and resilience. From the age of thirty, collagen production decreases by about 1% per year. But after menopause, this process accelerates: in the first five years after menopause, the collagen content in the skin can decrease by as much as 30%.

This change is not only visible in the face. The neck and décolleté also lose volume and hydration. The skin becomes thinner, shows fine lines and can wrinkle. These areas are often forgotten in daily care, while they are just as sensitive to aging due to sunlight and collagen loss.

Cleansing!

Cleansing is an important step in natural skin care, even as you age. A German study shows a relationship between air pollution and increased pigmentation.

The researchers assessed the skin of 400 women aged 70 to 80 years. One group of test subjects came from the Ruhr area, where there is a lot of industry. The analysis showed that people from the Ruhr area, who were exposed to a lot of nitrogen dioxide, suffered more from pigment spots than people from rural areas. No fewer than 25 percent more pigment spots were visible with them. Read more about nitrogen dioxide and pigmentation.

Care tips: As you get older and your skin gets drier, your skin in particular can benefit from extra hydration. The key is using a cleanser that is suitable for drier skin. Opt for a creamy formula that hydrates over foam or gel cleansers, which can strip away moisture. More about skin cleansing

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

After menopause, the composition of your skin gradually changes. One of the most noticeable changes is a decrease in the activity of the sebaceous glands. These glands produce less sebum, the natural layer of fat that helps to retain moisture and keep the skin supple. At the same time, the level of natural moisturizing substances in the skin, such as urea and hyaluronic acid, also decreases.

The result? The skin loses moisture faster, becomes drier and feels tight or rough. Flaking and itching can also occur. The skin barrier, the top layer that protects against dehydration and irritants, becomes more vulnerable, which increases the chance of irritation or eczema.

When applying, make sure you don’t limit hydration to just the face. The neck, décolleté and forearms also often become dry and deserve attention. Applying to a still slightly damp skin, for example after showering, increases absorption and effectiveness. More about dry skin

Care tips: try to keep the skin more moisture with heavier skin oils (olive oil, coconut oil), cream or ointment. Limit long, hot showers and apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. That helps boost hydration.

You still need sun protection

As the skin ages, not only does its appearance change, but so does the way it protects and repairs itself. One of the most important changes is the decrease in cell renewal in the epidermis and the skin’s ability to repair DNA. Normally, the skin recognizes and repairs damage to DNA caused by sunlight (especially UV radiation). However, as we age, this process becomes slower and less efficient. As a result, over the years, cells with genetic abnormalities can accumulate, which increases the risk of developing skin cancer.

This increased risk is particularly true for people who have had a lot of unprotected sun exposure in their youth and young adulthood, with or without sunburn. Most forms of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, are caused by cumulative UV damage that often only becomes apparent at a later age.

That is why daily protection from sunlight remains necessary, even after the age of sixty. Broad spectrum sun protection and regular skin checks for new or changing spots are valuable steps in a preventive skin routine as you age.

Care tip: So look for a broad spectrum SPF30 or higher and wear it every day especially in the spring and summer period. In the fall and winter period or if you work at home or in the office then a day cream with natural UVA filter or UVA Defense serum is suitable. More about UVA, UVB sunrays

Minimize wrinkled skin

You get more folds and wrinkles over the years due to sun damage, but also hormonal changes in menopause. Your hormone levels decrease with age, and your skin quality changes and wrinkles worsen. Wrinkles can also appear more visible and deeper when the skin is dry. More about wrinkles

Care tips: Use a moisturizer and serum on your face, jawline and neck every day. Hyaluronic acid in serum attracts moisture and moisturizes the superficial skin layer. For more on serum and how does it fit into my skin routine?

Also look for skin care products designed to help reduce fine lines and sagging.

Reduce the Spots

Age spots on the face, hands, and chest may appear more pronounced around menopause. to skin care products designed to help reduce fine lines and sagging. More about pigmentspots.

Care tips: Prevent pigment spots and fine lines by using sunscreen every day. Do you have spots? Exfoliating products, such as fruit acids, can help you remove excess dead skin cells. The peeling ensures a thinner superficial skin cell layer, making your skin smoother and looking fresher. Fruit acids can also reduce pigment spots, coarse pores, skin impurities and improve skin hydration.

Also look for ingredients that help fade pigmentation. Examples include vitamin B3 (niacinamide), arbutin, retinol, vitamin C, resveratrol (grapes), kojic acid, azelaic acid, aloesin (Aloe Vera), peptide.

Toners can also help even out skin tone.

If you have normal to oily skin and need an intense pigment treatment, Targeted Pigment serum is suitable. For sensitive skin, Spotreducer cream.

While you are here

There are so many different skin care products and which one is right for my skin? We also get these questions and to help you with that, we made a skin quiz. We provide product advice based on general and more specific questions. Take the Skin Quiz Iconic Elements, at the top of the homepage – to find out what your skin needs.