Skincare Tips for Menopause and Menopause Preparations

Menopause is a natural milestone every woman encounters, typically in her late 40s or early 50s, which signals the end of menstrual cycles. During menopause, hormonal changes and mood swings get the most attention, while some other issues are neglected. The problem is that skin changes, for example, are also just as impactful as hormonal changes, as they reshape how women feel and look.

Beauty and resilience should shine through every season and age, and menopause shouldn’t compromise your glow, which is why this was curated. In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about skincare at menopause and how to nurture your skin, Nigerian style!

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop permanently. This stop signals the end of her reproductive years and can typically happen between her late 40s and early 50s, though the exact age can vary. At this stage, the ovaries stop producing eggs due to a significant reduction in estrogen and progesterone production. This is absolutely different from perimenopause, where periods are irregular.

Menopause comes with different symptoms, some of which include:

• Irregular periods: Before periods stop completely, they can come early, late, or skip some months. It could be heavy in one month and then light in the next.
• Mood Swings: Emotions begin to play a fast game, you’re happy this minute and then sad the next second.
• Weight Gain: Menopause could also come with some extra weight, especially around your belly. It’s harder to keep off because your body is changing how it stores fat.
• Tiredness: Everyday tasks might become tiresome faster than before.
• Dry Skin: Menopause could also come with a rough or itchy sensation because your skin is not holding moisture like before.

Skincare challenges during menopause

Menopause changes a woman’s skin during menopause due to lower hormone levels, especially estrogen. These changes can make skincare a bit tricky, especially in hot and dusty climates. Some of these skin challenges include:

• Dry Skin: The skin doesn’t hold much moisture like before during menopause, and as a result, it feels rough and dry. The heat and harmattan can make this even worse.
• Thinning Skin: During menopause, the skin gets thinner and less firm. This might result in a sagging or less plump.
• Sensitivity: Another challenge is irritation or redness from products that have never been experienced before.
• Dark Spots: For melanin-rich skin, menopause can increase uneven tone or stubborn spots, especially with sun exposure.
• Breakouts: Some women get pimples again due to hormone shifts, even with oily skin.
• Sweat and Dust: Hot flashes plus Nigeria's weather can leave the skin sweaty or sticky and attract dirt or clog pores.

How menopause affects your skin

1. More Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Collagen is the major component that keeps the skin smooth and plump, and it is produced from the secretion of estrogen in the body. However, when menopause starts, estrogen production reduces, and collagen levels drop too. This leads to wrinkles, fine lines, or creases, especially around the eyes, mouth, or forehead. In our hot climate, sun exposure can speed up the process and make the lines more noticeable if the skin is not protected.

2. Dark Spots and Uneven Tone

Nigerian women have beautiful melanin-rich skin but can react to hormone changes at any time. During menopause, the drop in estrogen can lead to poor melanin production. Dark spots, patches, or uneven skin tone begin to surface, and it gets worse with sun exposure. This could include stubborn marks on the cheeks or forehead that weren’t there before.

3. Increased Sensitivity

Menopause also affects the skin by weakening its natural barrier due to lower estrogen levels. Usually, the barrier protects the skin from irritation, but when it’s not as strong, the skin gets sensitive and reacts to the slightest changes. Products like harsh soaps or even the heat and sweat of daily life might make the skin red, itchy, or uncomfortable. For some, this sensitivity shows up as rashes or stinging when using things that worked fine in the past.

4. Unexpected Breakouts

In case you don’t know, pimples are not only for teenagers and young adults alone, menopause brings them back. Hormone shifts can make the skin get oilier at some spots on the body, which can clog pores and cause breakouts when mixed with dust and humidity. Even when the skin is dry elsewhere, small bumps or acne on the chin or forehead could pop up.

5. Slower Healing and Repair

The skin is good at fixing itself, especially while sleeping at night. But during menopause, lower estrogen levels slow the healing process. Small marks, pimples, or dark spots take longer to heal. In areas where dust or sweat is predominant, this slower healing might mean blemishes stick around longer than they did before.

6. Thinner and Less Firm Skin

Estrogen keeps your skin thick and strong by supporting collagen and elastin, which as the skin’s building blocks. As estrogen drops, the skin gets thinner and loses some of its firmness. It might sag around your cheeks or jaw and may not bounce back or look plump like it used to. This thinning makes the skin look older and feel fragile, especially if it’s under the sun.

Step-by-step menopause skincare routine

Although menopause changes the skin entirely, a good routine can keep it healthy and glowing. Follow these steps every day to care for your skin during this phase:

Morning Routine

The goal is to cleanse the skin gently, hydrate deeply, and protect it from intense sun to keep the skin healthy and radiant.

• Cleanse: Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser to remove dirt. Wash with lukewarm water (not hot) to avoid drying out your skin.
• Tone (Optional): Add a light layer of hydration to prep your skin for moisturizing and also balance its pH level. Products like The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 hydrate and plump the skin.
• Moisturize: Lock in moisture with products like Nivea Perfect & Radiant Even Tone Day Cream to combat menopause-related dryness and keep skin soft in humid or harmattan conditions.
• Sun Protection: Sun protection (SPFs) prevents dark spots and premature aging from strong UV rays. Some common products that can be used include Neostrata Sheer Physical Protection SPF 50 and Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30.

Evening Routine

In the evening routine, the goal is to repair and nourish the skin overnight to tackle wrinkles, dullness, and thinning.

• Cleanse: Cleansing removes dirt, sweat, and sunscreen from the day to let your skin breathe and absorb night products.
• Treat (Optional): In this process, focus on key concerns during menopause, i.e., boosting collagen, reducing fine lines, and fading dark spots.
• Moisturize: Moisturizing restores the skin overnight with richer hydration to fight dryness and support repair.
• Extra Care (Optional): Target specific issues like eye puffiness or extreme dryness with a boost of hydration. Whatever product you use depends on the skin issue you are targeting.

Preparing for menopause (before it starts)

Menopause might feel far off, especially if you’re in your 20s. Regardless, getting ready early can make it smoother when it arrives. This means building habits now to handle the hormone changes, hot weather, and skin challenges later. Here’s how to start preparing before menopause knocks on your door.

1. Build a Solid Skincare Routine

Starting a good routine now strengthens your skin and keeps it against dryness, dark spots, and wrinkles that menopause brings. Cleanse your skin daily with gentle products to keep pores clear. Moisturize to lock in hydration and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every morning to protect against sun damage, which speeds up aging.

2. Eat for Your Skin and Hormones

Food can help balance hormones and keep your skin glowing before menopause hits. Add local superfoods like ugwu (pumpkin leaves) for vitamins A and C to boost skin health. Eat beans or soya chunks to mimic estrogen production and ease the transition process. Build more collagen by eating oranges or pawpaw. Cut back on too much pepper soup or oily foods if you’re prone to hot flashes later.

3. Stay Active

Exercise keeps your blood flowing and helps with hormone balance. Take walks in the evening when it’s cooler (for 30 minutes, 3-5 times a week.) Engage in dancing at home or with friends to boost your mood. Light stretching or exercises also tone your body gently.

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Hydration keeps your skin plump and ready for menopause dryness. Six to eight glasses of water per day is great, and when you’re spending your day outside, carry a reusable bottle. Avoid too many sugary drinks; they can dry you out over time.

5. Manage Stress Early

Stress can make hormone shifts worse and show up on your face as dullness or pimples. To prevent this, take time to relax, engage in community groups, watch your favourite movie or comedy skits, and chat with families and friends.

6. Check Your Health

Knowing your body helps you spot changes early and prepare better. Make it a habit to undergo periodic medical checkups. Ask about your hormones, skin, or any family history of menopause issues. Also, keep an eye on irregular periods; they might hint that perimenopause is near.

Conclusion

Menopause is not the end of the world or the end of enjoyment. It’s just a phase that needs more effort to take care of your body due to changes in the body and other aspects of life. With smart skincare and early preparation, you can keep your beauty and confidence alive. Beyond Medplus is here to help, and we are thrilled to offer you affordable products and expert advice specifically for your skin. Visit any of our physical stores today or make your purchases online and get your skincare journey started.