Menopause causes a lot of hormonal changes which are uncomfortable and somewhat annoying too. These hormonal changes result in mood swings, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. Apart from these upheavals, there are some skin changes too like dryness and itchiness.
Dry skin during menopause may make your mood swings worse. Menopause begins after a woman’s last period which happens around the age of 40-58 years. You may be finding it difficult to deal with dry skin during menopause but do not worry! We are going to help you out with how to deal with dry skin during menopause. Read on to find out why it happens and how to deal with it!
Why does it Happen?
Menopause marks the climax of your menstrual cycle. Menopause gives off so many hormonal and physical symptoms or we can say changes in your body. It affects your physical as well as your emotional health.
One of them is itchy and dry skin during menopause. You must be thinking why it happens? Well, the simple answer to this question is hormonal change. When you are in your menopause phase, there is a loss of estrogen. Estrogen is a reproductive hormone that helps in the production of collagen and natural oils of the skin and these are highly beneficial for skin health.
Menopause The lack of natural oils and collagen leads to the absence of moisture and the inability to hold water in your skin. Due to this reason, you experience itchy and dry skin during menopause. Dry and itchy skin can emerge at any part of your body like face, limbs, neck, back, chest, and even on your elbows and T-Zone of your face.
Some Other Changes to your Skin During Menopause Include:
- Pigmentation
- Rashes
- Acne
- Wrinkles
You can experience some other skin conditions like paresthesia or formication which is related to the sensation of crawling insects on the skin. Sounds creepy right? But you can treat your dryness at home with simple tips and remedies. Read on to find out how to deal with dry skin during menopause!
How to Deal with Dry Skin During Menopause?
Here are some remedies and self-care tips you can try even at your home to deal with dry skin during menopause. Don’t let menopause stop you from having nourishing and moisturized skin.
Tips to Alleviate Dry Skin:
1. Moisturize Regularly
Moisturizing your skin regularly is the key to have healthy skin. Moisturizing your skin when it’s dry can help your skin stay hydrated and reduce the itchiness due to dryness. Make sure to use a high-quality moisturizer which helps in holding water in your skin’s outermost layer. You can use a moisturizer with aloe vera extracts or a calamine lotion for skin discomfort.
2. Increase your Collagen Levels
Dry skin is a result of the loss of collagen levels in the body. It is a protein that helps in providing elasticity to the skin. Boosting collagen may help you achieve that glowing skin back. You can eat foods rich in vitamin C and sulfur which produce collagen in the body. Other foods that are rich in vitamin C and sulfur are red pepper, guava, strawberries, citrus fruits, broccoli, garlic cauliflower, etc.
3. Restore the Natural Oils
Just like collagen, natural oils are important for moisturized skin. It also offers help in boosting collagen by fighting with enzymes that kill them. You can intake natural oils in some foods like omega-3 supplements, borage oil, black currant seed oil.
These oils can benefit repair and protect the damaged and dry skin. Replenishing the natural oils in your body will also help with the lack of energy and weakness during menopause.
4. Drink Plenty of Water
The key to overall hydration is increasing the intake of water. Water wipes out all the toxins from your body and hydrates your skin. Hydrated skin means healthy skin. Drink plenty of water every day to keep your skin moisturized and healthy.
Drink Plenty of WaterDrinking water won’t just give you healthy skin but it can also help you with vaginal dryness which is one of the most common symptoms of menopause.
5. Check on your Thyroid Levels
Levels of thyroid hormone are responsible for itchy and dry skin during menopause. It is often suggested by doctors to consult their doctor about their thyroid levels when they experience dry skin during menopause.
Menopause dry skin is different from dry skin due to environmental conditions as it happens due to hormonal change It’s important to get yourself tested for thyroid level. Thyroid problems can cause health problems like hypothyroidism.
6. Choose your Skincare Products Carefully
Dry skin is highly sensitive and if something unfavorable is applied it can get really itchy and irritable. Many skin care products include chemicals that can wipe out natural oils from your skin making it more dry and itchy.
Avoid foaming face washes as they are not favorable for dry skin. Also, it is good if you look for cleansers which are free of preservatives, fragrance, and dyes.
Take Care of your Overall Health
Our skin is a reflection of our inner health. A diet with unhealthy food will eventually cause more problems for the skin. A nutritious and healthy diet will cure not just your skin problems but all your menopausal symptoms like stress and sleep deficits.
Intake a diet that includes Vitamins and minerals which regulate your hormone levels and boost the collagen and natural oils in the body. Try performing regular exercises to keep yourself fit and energetic all day long.
Menopause can have drastic changes in your body. From skin conditions to thyroid problems, your menopause phase can be stressful and exhausting. Taking proper care of yourself during this phase can help you. Hormonal balance is necessary for minimizing the symptoms. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy and balanced diet to keep your collagen levels managed.
Dry skin during menopause is common and can happen to any woman, you are not alone. If your dry skin problem does not go away and is persistent for a long time, you should get yourself checked by a doctor to be sure that everything is fine.
Also read- Postmenopause Problems
