How To Care For Unpredictable Perimenopausal Skin

Perimenopause is a season of a woman’s life that will come whether she wants it or not. There’s no telling how long it will last or what kind of havoc it might create. Fortunately, we live in a time when women speak up about their bodies and how they’re feeling. We will share our experiences with health professionals and other women who are going through similar challenges.

One of the most dreaded issues perimenopausal women face is irritated skin. Suddenly, in our mid-40s, they're dealing with breakouts like when they were teenagers.

By Wix

Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG, explained to Today what perimenopause is all about,

“It is a natural process of aging and a decrease in our hormone production. It can be exacerbated or precipitated by stress, birth control pills, [or] hormone disruption.”

Aesthetician Amy L. Meier has worked in skincare for decades and told Today she wants women to understand that perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations may change their skin, too.

“Many women are unaware this can start in our early to mid-30s,” she said.  “I wish someone would have told me this and talked to me about all the things that can happen!”

During this time, we may also notice more wrinkles in our skin, and the texture may start to feel drier. That’s due to less collagen production and hormone changes.

Proper Products Can Make All the Difference for Perimenopausal Skin

“Perimenopause really starts with the decline in DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which is one of our adrenal hormones associated with longevity, bone strength, breast health, memory/brain health, and integrity of our skin and collagen production,” Dr. Cabeca said.

So, we can have dry skin, wrinkles, and pimples simultaneously. Oh, the joys of being a woman. But don’t fret. The experts have some recommendations on how to treat our skin during Perimenopause.

Leighann Blackwood

Meir suggests looking at labels for products that are vitamin-rich, which can help heal inflamed skin. Of course, sunscreen is a must for daily skin protection, and a combination of serums and moisturizers helps to keep your skin hydrated.

“If we think about our pigment skin cells as ‘little squid,’ when they are overstimulated, like an octopus or squid, they ink when they are scared,” she told Today. “We want to give them sunglasses during the day (antioxidants) and a chill pill at night (pigment regulators). This will protect against further damage and help repair past damage.”

Good skincare doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Many trusted skin care lines are available online and in drug stores.