Menopause sneaks up on us. And it’s affecting so many - in the US, 6000 women a day enter this state and as we live longer, that means dealing with the fallout for literally decades of our lives. So it helps to get a strategy in place for skin health as well - laid plans will make a huge difference to how you both look and feel.
For skin, it’s the simple things you do everyday that matter. Here are my 4 top priorities and the sooner you give them some thought, the better you’re going to fare.
- Collagen. There’s no escaping the fact that 30% is going to disappear in the first 5 years of menopause. This has a bigger impact on women’s skin than chronological ageing. So that means a toolkit containing daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, retinoids, antioixdants and barrier support agents to help improve tolerance, as skin loses moisture as part of 5e oestrogen decline. There’s also a very exciting new agent called Emepelle, which mimics the effect of oestrogen when applied topically without the systemic side effects - will be sharing more on this later.
- Eat and supplement for skin health. A healthy barrier needs omega 3 fatty acids - I like flaxseed for this. Vitamin D is a necessity- and recommended doses for post- menopausal skin are higher, so you should take at least 2000iu daily. A good mineral supplement is a good idea, and nicotinamide is worth considering if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
- Sleep quality is Essential - melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and helps remove AGE complexes - stiffened collagen gets glycated through exposure to a high glycaemic Western diet. Magnesium supplement or in a bath may facilitate.
- Nourish brow and lash growth Such an important detail for creating definition in the face. Whether you just use cosmetics or a boosting lash and brow grower, this gives a face gravitas and combats the loss of pigment and density of hair growth.
The most important thing is to focus on these fundamentals early - as with most things, knowledge is power! Looking forward to sharing more of these tips in an exciting podcast that I can’t wait to tell you about!
