Noticing Menopause Skin Changes? Learn Why it Happens, and What You Can Do

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Do you know why it seems your skin is changing more rapidly than ever as you approach menopause? It’s because it is!

You’re not imagining things. What you’ve probably been noticing about your skin is due to one major change your body’s experiencing now: You’re no longer producing as much estrogen as you used to. We here at SeeMe Beauty know a thing or two about that because we’ve done clinical studies to understand the impact of estrogen depletion on the skin. These studies have uncovered what we call the five genomic pathways of hormonal aging. What’s a “genomic pathway?” Think of it as a channel that carries messages from your genes. Read on to learn how these five channels begin functioning differently during menopause.

• Cells lose energy. Skin cells are like little power plants, and like actual power plants, as they age, they become less efficient. At SeeMe Beauty, we have found tools that allow us to measure this loss of energy, which you can see in the images below. The younger, most efficient skin cells are brighter; the older, less efficient cells are dim. 

Here’s the good news: Ingredients like Vitamin B3 (also called niacinamide) found in the SeeMe Beauty Complex can improve cellular energy so that our skin functions more the way it did when we were younger.

• Sebum and other lipids decrease. Sebum and lipids are skin's natural fats. They play a crucial role in maintaining the strength of its protective barrier, which holds moisture and protects the skin from damage. As estrogen diminishes so do sebum and lipids. While this can be a good development in that it helps reduce acne breakouts, it’s also why as we get older our skin is so much drier. So it’s important to replace these natural oils with products containing ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, and glycerin to keep skin healthy and hydrated.

• Skin turnover slows. Skin turnover is the natural “sloughing off” of old surface cells so newer cells can emerge. When we’re younger, skin takes about 28 days to turn over. As we get closer to menopause it can take up to 35 days. The accumulation of surface cells can lead to dullness and lack of radiance. That’s why exfoliating with a gentle facial scrub up to three times a week can help maintain vibrant healthy looking skin.

• Production of collagen decreases. Collagen is the foundation of our skin, giving it the firmness and elasticity it needs to move and function. Loss of estrogen slows the production of healthy collagen—so it’s critical to protect, maintain, and stimulate the collagen we still have. How? Diligent use of a broad spectrum sunscreen against UVA/UVB rays helps keep collagen healthy; and good hydration can have a stimulating effect.

• Skin Barrier Thins. And lastly, as our stratum corneum, or skin barrier, thins, we lose moisture and become more susceptible to damage from unstable molecules in the environment, like free radicals. But we can protect our skin barrier by moisturizing, choosing products that contain vitamin B3, and regularly applying a broad spectrum sunscreen.

At SeeMe, we know we can improve these changes in the five genomic pathways with the skin care ingredients we have in our  SeeMe Complex™ tool box. While we can’t change your bone structure with a cream—you know that!—we can give you the powerhouse skin care products that can help your skin to be as healthy, radiant, and beautiful as you are!

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