Why does skin change around menopause?
Dry, itchy skin can start during perimenopause, before periods have stopped, and continue after menopause. Menopause means you have not had a period for 12 months. Symptoms can change over time, so adjust your skincare to what your skin needs now rather than keeping an old routine unchanged. If menopausal symptoms are affecting daily life and you want treatment options, speak to your GP.4
Falling estrogen affects the skin's ability to retain water and its collagen, the protein that helps support skin. Collagen falls rapidly after menopause, with nearly a third lost in the first five years. Changes in elastin, which helps skin stretch and spring back, also contribute to slackness and wrinkles. Dryness, loss of firmness and irritation therefore need different approaches.35
Your daily skincare routine
- 1Cleanse gently each day to remove makeup and daily grime. For dry skin, choose a gentle, nonfoaming cleanser designed for sensitive skin; a foaming cleanser is better reserved for oily skin.
- 2Apply moisturizer after washing or bathing while your skin is still damp. For very dry skin, choose a moisturizer you can comfortably use at least twice daily, and apply more when your skin feels dry.
- 3Each morning, apply broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen before going outdoors. Cover exposed skin, including your face, neck and hands. Use sunscreen throughout the year.
- 4When outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming, sweating or toweling off. Add shade and clothing that protects skin from the sun.
Which moisturizer should you choose?
Choose a moisturizer by how dry or oily your skin is, not by whether the jar has discovered the word menopause. Creams are a useful starting point as skin holds less moisture with age, but oily areas do not necessarily need the same texture as dry cheeks.2
| Texture | How it differs | When to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Gel | Usually water based and lighter than lotion. | For oily skin. |
| Lotion | Lighter and less hydrating than cream. | For mild seasonal dryness; drier mature skin often needs more. |
| Cream | Thicker, with more oil than lotion or gel. | As a starting point for menopausal dryness. |
| Ointment | The thickest texture and most effective for dry skin. | When skin needs more moisture than a lotion supplies. |
Look for hyaluronic acid or glycerin to help with dryness, and ceramides to help hydrate skin. Choose fragrance free products if your skin is sensitive. With combination skin, moisturize dry areas and use less on oily areas instead of treating the whole face identically.12
What helps dry, itchy or flaky skin?
Keep showers short and warm rather than hot, then moisturize immediately after toweling off. Avoid fragranced products, added colors and drying alcohol such as SD alcohol or denatured alcohol if your skin is sensitive. For itching associated with dryness, reduced bathing time, avoiding irritating soap, using a humidifier and keeping nails short are useful measures.35
Moisturize dry, peeling skin rather than exfoliating it. Scrubs, acids or microdermabrasion are not the next step when moisturizer seems insufficient: thinner menopausal skin can be harmed by home exfoliation. Have persistent dryness assessed before trying these treatments.12
What can help wrinkles and loss of firmness?
Sun protection can reduce visible wrinkles and prevent new ones. Products containing retinol or peptides can increase collagen in skin. Antioxidants such as vitamin C can help fight free radicals, molecules that contribute to skin aging. Choose extras for a specific concern rather than giving every bottle a managerial role.13
Collagen supplements are not a proven solution for menopausal skin. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, has increased skin collagen and thickness in studies, with changes seen as early as three months. That timing applies to hormone treatment, not to a moisturizer or retinol cream. Research on applying estrogen to facial skin remains limited, so discuss hormone treatment with your clinician rather than choosing a facial estrogen treatment yourself.35
What if you have acne as well as dryness?
Acne can develop before or during menopause as female hormone levels fall. Try a gentle cleanser containing salicylic acid to help unclog pores. Avoid drying acne products: drying the skin can worsen acne, and treatments intended for teenage skin can be too harsh. If acne remains uncontrolled, a dermatologist can assess whether prescription or hormonal treatment is needed.1
Should you treat dark spots at home?
Have dark spots examined before buying a fading treatment, because skin cancer can look like an age spot. Once a spot has been assessed, treatment options include prescription creams such as tretinoin, a retinoid, or procedures such as peels and lasers. Shop bought creams do not always fade dark spots. Daily sunscreen helps prevent new spots and can help existing age spots fade.13
When should you see a doctor?
Avoid products that aggravate your skin, and seek assessment for persistent redness or a rash rather than assuming every change is menopause. Eczema and rosacea can worsen. See a dermatologist if dryness becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or very irritating despite moisturizing. Skin also heals more slowly as hormones fall; seek care if a wound develops an infection or another skin problem.123
Where this answer comes from
- 1Caring for your skin in menopauseaad.org
- 2How to pick the right moisturizer for your skinaad.org
- 3Here’s How Menopause Affects Your Skin and Hairhealth.clevelandclinic.org
- 4Symptoms of menopause and perimenopausenhs.uk
- 5Menopause, skin and common dermatoses. Part 2: skin disorderspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
