Menopause comes with many minor and major changes, also for the largest organ of our body, our skin. Many women find their skin becomes drier and itchy when they reach menopause. Not only on the face, but also on other parts of the body, such as the chest or arms. What causes this? And what can you do about it, besides applying more moisturiser?
I can deal with my face getting drier. I just apply a bit more moisturiser. But my itchy scalp is driving me insane! - Betty (age 61)
Skin changes such as dry skin and skin ageing can start as early as perimenopause, when the levels of oestrogen in the body start to fluctuate. However, most women experience problems with dry or itchy skin once they’ve hit menopause and after, when they are no longer menstruating and oestrogen levels are at their lowest. In postmenopause, oestrogen levels stay low, so you may find your skin gets even drier.
Women who have dry and itchy skin during menopause often experience altered skin sensations, such as prickly sensations (pins and needles) or tingling. These sensations can occur in the face, neck, back, chest or scalp, or they can be widespread (i.e., not limited to a certain part of the body). The urge to scratch can be annoying and disrupt your sleep, or interfere with your functioning during the day.
Do you have itchy or dry skin? You are not alone. It's a common complaint, especially among women over 65. Most women with skin problems also suffer from other typical symptoms of menopause. However, symptoms can vary from one person to the next. In some women skin problems are persistent (chronic) or severe, other women respond well to treatment and the problems can be alleviated or completely resolved.
During the menopausal transition, your ovaries gradually produce less of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Low levels of oestrogen, in particular, have noticeable effects on the skin. When oestrogen begins to fluctuate and fall, the production of collagen decreases along with it. Collagen is a protein that keeps your skin moist, firm and elastic. Therefore, when your body produces less collagen, this can cause skin problems such as skin ageing.
Loss of oestrogen also decreases the function of the sebaceous glands. This reduces the production of natural skin oils, resulting in drier skin.
This is all very logical. But why does the skin itch during menopause? If you have dry skin, the protective barrier function is compromised, causing your skin to become susceptible to external irritants – and itch. Skin can itch all over the body or only in specific areas. The medical term for itching of the skin is pruritus.
Besides hormonal changes, other factors can also cause dry skin or skin irritation. These include:
Certain medicines or health conditions can also affect the skin or exacerbate existing skin problems.
In short, many different things can cause dry skin, so it's important to consider various factors to determine the most suitable treatment approach.
Proper skin care keeps your skin healthy and hydrated, but your lifestyle and diet are just as important. What can you do to nourish your skin from the inside out and prevent it from drying out? Here are some tips.
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An effective way to relieve dry and itching skin during menopause is by adapting your lifestyle and diet. Make healthy and varied food choices and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. In addition, keep your skin healthy by using skincare products that help soothe and hydrate the skin without irritating it.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces the hormones a woman's body stops making due to menopause. HRT can be an effective way to treat severe symptoms, such as mood swings, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Do you have dry or itchy skin as well as other severe symptoms? Then HRT might be an option for you.