FAQ ABOUT Menopause and Perimenopause
Can hormone supplements improve the skin?
Yes. Replacing the hormones in which you have become deficient will do more than any cream or serum to keep your skin in good nick. Seriously. If I could choose only one thing to help my skin, I would pick hormone replacement before any fancy cream or tweakment.
Are there any natural alternatives to HRT/BHRT?
Many people who can’t or don’t want to take HRT swear by alternatives including evening primrose oil, black cohosh, and red clover, all of which contain plant oestrogens or plant oestrogens.
Do I need special ‘menopause’ skincare?
I’d suggest starting with the sort of effective, hardworking products that address any skin issues such as dryness or dullness and which work at any age. Yes, there are many new skincare ranges specifically aimed at menopausal skin. That is a triumph in itself, given that, until very recently, menopause was such a taboo subject that retailers would shy away from anything aimed at ‘women of a certain age’ and would never have dreamed of putting anything labelled ‘for menopause’ on their shelves or website.
Read the menopause e-book for more detail, but I think that if, for example, your skin barrier needs a bit of help, then use a ceramide-rich moisturiser. You don’t have to seek out a ceramide-rich moisturiser labelled ‘for menopausal skin’ unless it can convince you that it has other, relevant, ingredients or benefits to offer you.
Other practitioners suggest focusing on serums with active ingredients that activate your skin’s natural moisture factors (so you aren’t just slapping a band-aid on your skin’s decreasing hydration levels). That could include hydrating serums that are rich in hyaluronic acid, or a retinoid, which can increase your skin’s cellular activity (helping tackle fine lines and wrinkles too) if you overcome the initial irritation and dryness that the ingredient can sometimes cause.