Menopause Changes Your Skin Completely — So Why Don’t Women Know It?

Your skin changes as you age: it’s a fact of life, and we all know it. But what most women don’t realize is the impact that menopause, specifically, has on your skin — and as a result, they’re going into it unprepared for how their appearance is about to change.

A recent survey from Galderma found that over 50% of the more than 4,300 women participating only learned about menopause skin changes by going through it themselves. Over 50% of women only found out about changes in their 40s. And more than one-third of women wish they would’ve known earlier.

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“This is very consistent with what I see in my dermatology practice,” says Dr. Morgana Colombo, a board-certified dermatologist at Integrated Dermatology of Reston and founder of Vidaderma Skincare. “I frequently see women in their 40s and 50s who tell me their skincare products suddenly aren’t working the way they used to.”

Dr. Dawn Queen, a dermatologist in Manhattan, is also seeing women come in unprepared for the way menopause changes their skin. Her patients know to expect symptoms like hot flashes, but “they tend to be underprepared on how hormonal changes can affect their skin,” she says. “Women will come to me reporting dryness, thinning skin and hair loss, without even realizing menopause may be contributing.”

The Galderma survey found that women experience an average of three changes to their skin, including:

• Lines and wrinkles: 59% experience them on the face, 33% experience them on the body

• Drier Skin: 56% on the face, 58% on the body

• Loss of firmness and elasticity: 58% on the face, 54% on the body

• Duller skin: 40% on the face, 30% on the body

Those aren’t the only symptoms women experience, though. “Women come to me with crepiness, itching and sensitivity,” says Dr. Jessica Wu, a dermatologist in Beverly Hills and founder of WUME, a practice that combines dermatology with women’s health. Women can experience menopausal acne and hair thinning as well.

These changes have a significant impact on women’s mental health and self-image. According to the survey, 60% of women said menopause-related skin changes made them feel less attractive; 57% said they felt anxious about it; and 55% said they felt less confident. It even impacted their desire to be around other people, with 46% saying they felt less sociable.

Women want to know what’s coming earlier on, and doctors agree that they should. For one thing, it’s important to know that these changes aren’t their fault or due to a skincare routine gone wrong, but “rather a biological change,” Queen explains. When you approach it that way, with guidance from your doctor, you can “take a proactive rather than reactive approach,” Colombo adds. You can revamp your routine, add in key products or explore preventative treatments in your 40s, before the changes get into high gear.

And beyond that, “skin is the front door to your health,” Wu emphasizes. A visit about breakouts or thinning hair can open a much bigger conversation about sleep, periods and how a woman is feeling.”

When it comes to addressing these changes, our experts agreed that a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and a daily SPF product are non-negotiables. From there, they recommend adding in a retinol or a prescription-strength tretinoin to support collagen production, which decreases sharply in menopause, and a vitamin C serum to address oxidative stress. You can also discuss in-office treatments like lasers, neuromodulators like Botox or collagen biostimulators like Sculptra.

“Menopause is a natural biological transition,” Colombo says, “but that doesn’t mean women have to accept discomfort or feel powerless over the changes they experience.”