When your hormones changed during puberty, your skin changed. Now that your hormones are changing again during menopause, your skin is changing again, too. You may need to change your skin care routine to address some (or all) of the following issues:

  • Acne. It seems unfair, but the drop in hormones that occurs in menopause can cause acne just as the increase in hormones during puberty did. You can try over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide products or ask your skin care specialist for a prescription-strength medication.
  • Facial hair. You aren’t producing more testosterone, but you have less of the female hormones to counter it. This can lead to more hair above your lip and on your chin. Bleaching will lighten the hair, but most women take steps to remove it. Choices include depilatories or waxing, at home or in at the spa. A series of electrolysis treatments will remove hair permanently.
  • Wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Less estrogen means less fat under your facial skin and less production of collagen. These two factors mean skin is more likely to sag and wrinkle. Look for products with ingredients that stimulate collagen production and find an injection specialist who can restore your lost facial volume using dermal fillers.
  • Thinning skin. As skin thins, it also gets dryer. You can actually suffer from menopausal dry skin and menopausal acne at the same time. Use a creamy cleanser and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Look for products with hyaluronic acid, which binds moisture in the skin.
  • Pigmentation changes. Brown colored age spots can start to appear now. As you age you are also more susceptible to rosacea, which can give your skin an allover ruddy coloration. For brown spots, topical lightening creams may help. Rosacea is best treated by a dermatology provider, though you can reduce the appearance of redness by using a moisturizer that has a slightly green tint to it.

Whatever skin issues you are dealing with, be sure to get a good night’s sleep. Your skin gets a chance to heal and recover at night. And bright, alert eyes are a good look for everyone.