By Dr Ganesh Avhad, Dermatology
Every woman suffers from Menopause, somewhere between the ages of 40-58, when the release of ovaries stops. It is when the menstrual cycle stops as a result of the decline in production of estrogens, which is believed to be the powerhouse of hormones, menopause is attained. At puberty, estrogen helps in maturation of a girl’s body and in keeping the bones sturdy and strong.
Let’s discuss the causes of skin changes during menopause in detail…
Causes-
1. Decline in Production of Estrogens:
Estrogens and progesterone control ovulation and menstruation in a woman’s body. Moreover, collagens are produced by estrogens which help in making your skin shine and glow. And that is one reason that during Menopause the skin becomes itchy.
2. Aging:
With aging the skin becomes dull and dry because of a decline in the production of collagen and elastin.
Symptoms-
Some major changes in the skin that occur during menopause include:
1. Reduction in elasticity of the skin
2. Dryness in skin
3. Growth of facial hair
4. Wrinkles
5. Decrease in plumpness of skin as a result of reduction in level of glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s).
Treatment-
Medication:
To fight the effects of menopause, there are certain things you can do, which include:
Alpha- and Beta- Hydrogen Acids (AHA’s):
Use of AHA’s helps in reducing the thickness of the dead cells, thereby improving the GAG content and thus helping in normalizing the tone of the skin.
Protection from Sun:
It is highly recommended to use sunscreen while going out to protect your skin from the damaging UV rays.
Moisturization:
There are moisture-holding agents such as algae and seaweed extracts, which can help in retaining the moisture of your skin. Besides, body lotion can do wonders to your skin while you are going through the adverse effects of menopause.
Menopause is the natural result of how a woman’s body works. It has to be accepted by being careful of the changes it brings about in you.
