Spring is upon us and soon we will all be spending more time
outdoors. This increases our chance of harmful effects on our aging skin
and it is more important than ever to take extra precautions to protect
and at the same time lessen the damage sun exposure has on the skin.
When Menopause occurs, several things can happen to a woman's skin. The lower estrogen levels cause less collagen production; collagen maintains the thickness of skin and the healthy glow. The lessened collagen in skin is also the reason wrinkles occur.
Oil production lessens and this can cause some benefits with smaller pore size and less likelihood of acne, but it can also facilitate rashes and cause dryness.
There can be a discoloration, also called Melasma, which occurs with estrogen usage. Melasma can occur with pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and with hormone replacement.
Last and most importantly is skin cancer. While menopause does not cause skin cancer, the cumulative effect of the aging process and how the skin has been cared for can help determine or cause skin cancer.
So what can or should a woman do as she enters menopause to care properly for her skin?
1. The most important thing that dermatologists advise is USE SUNSCREEN DAILY! Why? The harmful radiation that comes from sunlight will break down collagen, which helps to cause wrinkles; can trigger abnormal pigment formation in the skin which leads to melasma. Sunlight radiation in skin that may have suboptimal DNA repair can lead to 1 of the 3 forms of skin cancer. Most makeup and moisturizers have some sunscreen formulated into the product to help with daily exposure to the sun.
2. LIFESTYLE! What we eat, what we drink and what we smoke all affect the skin. Your mother was right when she told you to eat your vegetables! There are innumerable anti-oxidants in the brightly colored and deep green vegetables that help with skin health and repair of micro or unseen damage. Smoking cessation is so important to maintain healthy skin. The nicotine will cause inflammation and release of harmful products in the blood stream known as free radicals; which are deadly on blood vessels and skin.
3. MOISTURIZE! Aging skin is almost always synonymous with drying skin and moisturizing with a good product with help with dryness, skin turnover to create healthy new skin, and can reduce inflammation. Many moisturizers have products included in the lotion or cream which help to build collagen, increase cell turnover and prevent or lessen wrinkles. There is a wide range of products and prices, but there are many good affordable creams in the drug stores.
4. SLEEP! How does this help the skin? Skin renewal is an ongoing process which occurs throughout the day, however researchers feel the skin works harder at cellular regeneration at night. It is also felt that the stress hormones that are released due to sleep deprivation may slow collagen production as well as alter regulation of blood vessel tone leading to puffiness and irritation.
5. HAVE YOUR PROVIDER EXAMINE YOUR SKIN YEARLY! There are not many people who can look at their own backs to check for new moles, it is important to have someone do this for you. Skin cancer is most often treatable or even preventable with removal of pre-cancer lesions, or early and small lesions. Some skin cancer is more serious than other types and if you have a family history, smoke, or have had a lot of sun exposure; it is extremely important to get a good skin evaluation. Some dermatologists feel it can only take one bad sunburn in your life to place you at serious risk for skin cancer.
So remember, SUNSCREEN, HEALTHY DIET, SLEEP, HYDRATION, MOISTURIZE, STOP SMOKING
When Menopause occurs, several things can happen to a woman's skin. The lower estrogen levels cause less collagen production; collagen maintains the thickness of skin and the healthy glow. The lessened collagen in skin is also the reason wrinkles occur.
Oil production lessens and this can cause some benefits with smaller pore size and less likelihood of acne, but it can also facilitate rashes and cause dryness.
There can be a discoloration, also called Melasma, which occurs with estrogen usage. Melasma can occur with pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and with hormone replacement.
Last and most importantly is skin cancer. While menopause does not cause skin cancer, the cumulative effect of the aging process and how the skin has been cared for can help determine or cause skin cancer.
So what can or should a woman do as she enters menopause to care properly for her skin?
1. The most important thing that dermatologists advise is USE SUNSCREEN DAILY! Why? The harmful radiation that comes from sunlight will break down collagen, which helps to cause wrinkles; can trigger abnormal pigment formation in the skin which leads to melasma. Sunlight radiation in skin that may have suboptimal DNA repair can lead to 1 of the 3 forms of skin cancer. Most makeup and moisturizers have some sunscreen formulated into the product to help with daily exposure to the sun.
2. LIFESTYLE! What we eat, what we drink and what we smoke all affect the skin. Your mother was right when she told you to eat your vegetables! There are innumerable anti-oxidants in the brightly colored and deep green vegetables that help with skin health and repair of micro or unseen damage. Smoking cessation is so important to maintain healthy skin. The nicotine will cause inflammation and release of harmful products in the blood stream known as free radicals; which are deadly on blood vessels and skin.
3. MOISTURIZE! Aging skin is almost always synonymous with drying skin and moisturizing with a good product with help with dryness, skin turnover to create healthy new skin, and can reduce inflammation. Many moisturizers have products included in the lotion or cream which help to build collagen, increase cell turnover and prevent or lessen wrinkles. There is a wide range of products and prices, but there are many good affordable creams in the drug stores.
4. SLEEP! How does this help the skin? Skin renewal is an ongoing process which occurs throughout the day, however researchers feel the skin works harder at cellular regeneration at night. It is also felt that the stress hormones that are released due to sleep deprivation may slow collagen production as well as alter regulation of blood vessel tone leading to puffiness and irritation.
5. HAVE YOUR PROVIDER EXAMINE YOUR SKIN YEARLY! There are not many people who can look at their own backs to check for new moles, it is important to have someone do this for you. Skin cancer is most often treatable or even preventable with removal of pre-cancer lesions, or early and small lesions. Some skin cancer is more serious than other types and if you have a family history, smoke, or have had a lot of sun exposure; it is extremely important to get a good skin evaluation. Some dermatologists feel it can only take one bad sunburn in your life to place you at serious risk for skin cancer.
So remember, SUNSCREEN, HEALTHY DIET, SLEEP, HYDRATION, MOISTURIZE, STOP SMOKING
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