Dealing With Skin Changes during Menopause

As the natural process of menopause begins to occur in women, most notice that the texture and appearance of their skin begins to change in ways they could never have imagined before. Most women begin to notice a general drying of the skin all over their body. They also begin to notice wrinkles forming where the skin has begun to dry.

Many believe estrogen based hormone replacement therapy is the way to treat these and other menopause related skin problems. This type of therapy, though, can lead to more problems instead of solving the current problems at hand. If estrogen is used in a cream form on the affected areas, it can act as a moisturizing agent. However, most doctors are unable to prescribe the cream form of estrogen, as it is wholly unavailable in the United States. Progesterone cream also works well as a moisturizer, but most doctors feel the side effects outweigh the benefits of prescribing it to their patients. There are a number of anti-aging over-the-counter creams that are gaining in popularity, and most of them work quite well. It is important to remember, though, that part of growing older is aging skin. Accepting that instead of fighting it will help lead to a better overall self-image for you. If you do decide to use something like estrogen cream, you may face side effects like darkening skin or general weight gain.

If your skin loses its girth or the wrinkles appear very quickly, it can be an indicator that you are losing collagen. This can lead to more serious problems, like collagen loss in bones. It can be a good indicator that you are developing osteoporosis. If this is the case, you should see your doctor immediately.

As your skin gets older with menopause, you are more likely to develop spider veins, or broken capillaries that are visible to the naked eye. In order to prevent these, you must moisturize in a full body program. You can start your moisturization program by drinking more water on a regular basis. You should also add raw flaxseed oil to your diet. It works well on salad or vegetables. Using herbal skin products that contain lipsomes can also help to moisturize your skin. They transport moisture to the cells below the epidermal layer, which can help to protect your overall skin tone.

There are a number of other products you can use to help your skin during menopause. Cocoa butter, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, and olive oil have all been proven to be quite helpful at hydrating the skin. Alpah hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin, which in turn, naturally rejuvenates it. Check the label of these products, though, because concentrations should be at least eight percent. Fruit acids also work well for skin rejuvenation. Papaya and strawberry pastes are particularly helpful.

Learn to live with your new skin after menopause. Protect it by staying out of the sun and applying sun screen when necessary. Use only products that you think will be good for your skin, and always consult your doctor or healer when you think it is necessary.