Dry or itchy skin and menopause: what you need to know

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: 

• Smoking: Smoking narrows blood vessels to the skin, reducing the amounts of blood and moisture that reach the skin. 
• Excessive sun exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and sunbeds damages the skin, accelerates the process of skin ageing and reduces skin moisture. Make sure you wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to protect your skin. 
• Hot showers and baths: Regular exposure to hot water can strip your skin of essential oils and moisture, leaving it dry and scaly. Lukewarm or cold showers help prevent dry skin. Avoid shower gel or soap. Instead, use pH-neutral body care products, or avoid them altogether – all the skin needs to stay clean is water. 
• Bad skin care products: Skin care products and cosmetics with alcohol or fragrances can dry out or irritate your skin. Use skin care products with proven active ingredients like retinol (Vitamin A), collagen, squalane, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Vitamin C and/or Vitamin E. 

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. 

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.

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. 

• Make sure you get enough Vitamin E. Vitamin E strengthens the skin's barrier function, which can help to lock in moisture and keep the skin hydrated. Vitamin E is found in foods such as almonds, avocados, hazelnuts and pine nuts. 
• Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are good sources of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C supports collagen production, among other things, and antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage. Foods high in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, kiwis and red peppers. Blueberries, leafy green vegetables and green tea are a good source of antioxidants. 
• Make sure your diet contains enough essential fatty acids. Healthy fats help keep the skin moist and hydrated. Walnuts, chia seeds, avocado and oily fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Taking a dietary supplement, such as algae or fish oil, can help to fill any dietary gaps. 
• Make sure you drink sufficient fluids. Drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day to keep your skin hydrated. It may sound obvious, but if you're not used to doing it, it's easily forgotten. 
• Optimise your diet with supplements. Solgar® Collagen Hyaluronic Acid increases skin elasticity. This supplement contains hyaluronic acid as well as collagen (for improved skin structure) and Vitamin C (which has a protective effect and stimulates natural collagen production)*. 

* Health claim(s) pending approval by the European Commission. 

Making certain lifestyle changes is essential for reducing dry skin and itching, especially during menopause. If this doesn't have the desired effect and itching is affecting the quality of your life, then hormone therapy, such as a topical hormone cream, could be an option. Hormone therapy can correct hormonal imbalances by providing oestrogen. Seek advice from a doctor, as hormone therapy is not suitable for every woman, especially those with a history of certain medical conditions.