SKINCARE TIPS DURING MENOPAUSE
A challenging time for women, weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings and much more! Menopause is a complicated process that all of us women will endure when we reach a certain age. Like our most recent blog topics of pregnancy and childbirth everyone’s experience, differs. The occurrence and intensity of menopausal symptoms varies. For most of us, these symptoms stop within one year, but for others, the symptoms can last as much as three to five years. 85% of women experience symptoms before they reach the beginning of it! Menopause effects women both internally and externally, in this week’s blog VOYA looks at the changes to a woman’s hormones and their skincare during this time.
MENOPAUSE AND YOUR SKIN
Hormonal Changes
Due to ovarian activity slowing in the body, there is also a decrease in Estradiol levels, and this is the cause of a lot of physical changes during menopause. Hormones cause the dreaded hot flashes, which are intense feelings of heat, especially of the face and then followed by intense sweating. With oestrogen levels dropping and androgens increasing women can find their voice slightly deepened and facial hair becomes thicker and more visible! These hormonal changes are going to wreak a bit of havoc.
Hormonal changes also change the physiology of the skin in different ways. Before menopause your sebaceous glands cause a type of ‘anti-aging’ effect BUT during menopause the oestrogen levels decrease and then testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands to create significantly much thicker sebum, in other words, some women find their skin becomes much more oily and there also is a tendency toward acne.
Acne
Also, acne around menopause tends to be deeper and many women can experience red bumps. Often this acne is deep, small, with often tender cysts and sometimes called micro-cystic acne.
Sagging Skin and Wrinkles
Oestrogen stimulates fat deposits over the female body and as its levels drop, its supportive fat below the skin of the face, neck and arms dissipates. This means your skin will sag and lose mobility. The lowering of oestrogen also means a reduction in the production and repair of Collagen and the Elastin in the dermis of the skin. This lack of an ability to repair itself is heightened by UV rays, which are destructive to collagen. Collagen is important for the brightness, elasticity, firmness and suppleness of the skin. A hallmark of aged skin is a loss of collagen, thought to be the major cause of wrinkle formation.
SKINCARE TIPS DURING MENOPAUSE
Stay out of the Sun
Use a good SFV always, the dermal layer of the skin will lose most of its ability to repair itself and UV rays are not your friend. ‘’With less melanocytes, we produce less of the protective melanin and skin appears lighter. Menopausal skin is, therefore, more prone to sun damage, making it even more important to protect the skin with a sunblock.’’ The International Dermal Institute
This lack of an ability to repair itself is heightened by UV rays!
Keep Active
Keeping active and fit not only helps the muscles but also helps your complexion by giving your circulation a boost. The increase in blood flow and oxygen levels will make your skin brighter and boosts your mood as active adults have a lower risk of depression and cognitive decline.
Other amazing benefits
- Prevents weight gain as you will gain muscle mass and lose that extra abdominal fat that occurs during menopause.
- Reduce risk of disease. – menopause weight gain can have serious effects on your health including diabetes and heart disease.
Hydration
Sometimes after menopause, your skin becomes drier because your oil glands aren't as active. Try to give skin more moisture with a heavier cream. Skip long, hot showers and put on moisturiser while your skin is still damp. That helps boost hydration! We suggest hydrating and antioxidant full- VOYA's Even Pure and Pearlesque from VOYA's moisturiser range.
Antioxidants
Collagen is what gives your skin youthful plumpness and keeps it firm and tight. During menopause your oestrogen levels drop, and so does the collagen in your skin. Using skincare products and eating foods with antioxidants contained in them will help make your skin stronger from the inside out. Try to eat every colour of the spectrum in your five a day!
Whatever type of skin you have, we strongly suggest that you use a moisturiser and serum that contains antioxidants, which can help repair free radical damage. Some potent antioxidants to look for in your moisturizer are vitamin A, vitamin C, resveratrol and green tea.
2018 Seaweed Science from VOYA, this year VOYA have been updating their scientific reach with some amazing results, the seaweed we use in our spa treatments and products has been proven to both help improve the creation of collagen and the protection of antioxidants in the skin! See our results below!
• Fucus Serratus: 724%*
• Himanthalia Elongata: 533%*
• Fucus Vesiculosus: 280%*
• Laminaria Digitata: 122%*
All VOYA seaweeds increase the skins ability to fight against free radicals. By protecting the skin from free radical damage you can help to:
• protect against premature aging
• prevent pollution damage
• decrease sensitivity
*in-Vitro testing the Shannon Biotechnology Research Centre, Institute of Technology, Tralee
Soy Sauce
Studies in Japan have found that where woman consumed more soy sauce in meals consistently, they experienced milder symptoms of menopause in comparison to European women. This is due to the fact that Soy is rich in isoflavones which is a compound that acts similar to oestrogen!
‘’Now Japanese scientists have found that women who took a soy based supplement containing S-equol for just three months had much less menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes and neck and shoulder stiffness.’’ (Reference: Telegraph)
Cleanse Gently
