Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1523489
ASCP SkinPro got a glow-up! Check out new app content at ascpskincare.com/skinpro 83 While the list of skin effects is extensive, the following are the major skin concerns that can present themselves after estrogen cessation begins. Wrinkles Skin loses about 30 percent of its collagen during the first five years of menopause and elasticity decreases by 1.5 percent per year postmenopause.6 Skin is a composite tissue, consisting of a fibrous matrix containing elastin and collagen. Collagen provides strength to the skin structure, and elastin provides the snap or resiliency. When the elastin fibers undergo changes that cause them to lose their resiliency or snap, the skin no longer returns to its original state. As a result, sagging and wrinkling can occur around the eyes and mouth, and frown lines can form on the forehead. Dry Skin Before the body enters perimenopause, estrogen enhances moisture/hydration (via hyaluronic acid, mucopolysaccharides, and sebum production), so the skin is strong, thick, and full of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The hormonal changes brought on by perimenopause decrease sebum production; with each passing year, the average moisture content of the stratum corneum is slightly decreased. Thin and Sagging Skin During menopause, the blood flow through the skin's capillaries is reduced as they are partly under the control of the estrogens, resulting in fewer nutrients and oxygen feeding the skin. This is a contributing factor to the thinning of the skin and reduced cell turnover rate leading to water loss and dry skin. Sagging skin and thin skin are also due to the loss of definition and underlying collagen (and especially the elastin fibers in the dermal layer) that provide the recoil properties of skin associated with premenopausal estrogen levels. This doesn't relate only to the face; lower estrogen levels during perimenopause redistribute fat to the stomach, thighs, and buttocks. This leads to a loss of supportive fat below the skin of the face, neck, hands, and arms. Sensitivity and Rosacea As skin ages, it becomes thinner and more sensitive to irritants. When the body enters perimenopause, the skin may react to products—certain cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, or laundry detergents—that weren't a problem in the past. Rosacea can also worsen during this time.7 Some people report more flushing episodes and increased bumps and pimples. Acne During perimenopause, estrogen levels decline but the male hormones (androgens such as testosterone) remain. This creates a hormone imbalance that can lead to excess testosterone at the skin receptor, which in turn can cause the skin to produce excess sebum—a common cause of adult acne. Brought on by a reaction to androgens, acne can remain a problem until postmenopause, when the production of androgens finally falls. As the skin loses its elasticity, the pores on the face also become bigger. Skin loses about 30 percent of its collagen during the first five years of menopause and elasticity decreases by 1.5 percent per year postmenopause.