World Menopause Day: How To Treat Ageing Skin

What’s your biggest skincare concern, and when did you first notice it?

I would say my biggest skincare concern is noticing the ageing process, particularly now I’m at menopause age. I have, generally speaking, always had good skin, which is why I think it was more noticeable - to me, anyway. What I really noticed was the laxity, dullness and fine lines.

It’s hard to pinpoint when I first noticed it, as skin ageing is gradual, but I would probably say in my early 50s, just when menopause started.

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What products or treatments have you tried to remedy it?

I have tried several skincare products, which include vitamin C, to tackle free radicals, brighten the skin and provide some protection, ceramides to improve the skin barrier function, as my skin was quite dry, retinols to improve skin cell function, and I’ve increased my SPF factor to 50. I have always cleansed my face, never left my makeup on overnight and have never used wipes!

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What have you found to be the best way to treat ageing skin?

Having a better understanding and how menopause affects the skin, I learnt that the skin contains oestrogen receptors. So, even though I have been taking great care of it, I feel that by addressing this issue, my skin could be improved further. I started to use Aestheticare’s Emepelle which is two products - a daytime serum and a night cream. They’re so simple, yet I have found them to be very effective. Emepelle has been specifically formulated for oestrogen deficient skin in women who are perimenopausal and menopausal, and the products contain an ingredient that mimics oestrogen. Since using this product I have had several compliments saying how good my skin looks.

Of course, as we know with ageing, there are other factors that occur such as loss of volume, reabsorption of bone, etc, so other types of treatments may be beneficial to complement great looking and healthy skin.

What would you recommend to anyone who has menopausal skin concerns?

Menopause is becoming a big topic now and one that I am particularly interested in. Being at this age, myself, I can speak from experience, and I’m currently looking into a way to share with others the journey to healthy and great-looking skin. We can’t stop the natural ageing process but we can help improve the effects of it. Oestrogen is involved with the skin’s collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production, so I recommend skincare products that address these processes.

It’s also about understanding a patient’s lifestyle, diet and general health, which are all contributing factors. For starters, I address the skin barrier function, as this is often inadequate, and epidermal water loss creates issues as the skin ages. It is about educating patients about what is going on in the skin and why they have developed their skin concerns.

Other skin care products I would recommend are a good cleanser, vitamin C, retinol and a broad spectrum SPF 50. I would, of course, recommend the Emepelle day and night cream too, as these contain all you need for oestrogen deficient skin. They also contain antioxidants and vitamin A.

Such an interesting topic. Thanks so much for chatting with us, Gaynor! Glowday has hundreds of aesthetic practitioners, who are all medically qualified, who can help you address any menopausal skin concerns. Find one here.