Menopause and Aging Skin

There comes a time in every woman's life where she looks at herself in the mirror and starts seeing a stranger with some distorted features, and they wonder-Is that really me? This time is her middle ages i.e. from age 45 years onwards. It is the time when our bodies begin to change-internally and externally. We see wrinkles on our face and bodies and there are various hormonal imbalances. This is known as menopause and aging skin. But you must be thinking what is menopause and aging skin?

Many people have a misconception that menopause is a disease. That is wrong! Menopause is a stage in a woman's life when the menstrual cycle ceases. It is experienced my most women by age 55years-60 years. 12 consecutive years without a menstrual period can be a specific definition of menopause. At this age even the skin starts aging and thus menopause and aging skin go hand-in-hand.

The two major hormones in a women's body are progesterone and estrogen. The ovaries are responsible for the production of these hormones and their role is the control of the menstrual cycle. The production of estrogen is reduced and the production of progesterone is stopped during menopause i.e. the ovaries stop ovulating. This leads to a hormonal imbalance which is a sign of menopause. The various symptoms are weight gain or loss, salt and fluid retention, depression, irritability, headaches, mood swings, blood clotting etc.

Now skin aging is normally of two types-intrinsic aging i.e. from the genes we inherit and extrinsic aging i.e. from external factors like environmental factors such as exposure to the sun's rays. This skin aging is also because of menopause. The relation between menopause and aging skin will be seen later in the article.

Intrinsic aging which begins in our mid-20s is because of the reduction in production of collagen in the skin. Also the dead skin cells do not shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease. The various signs of this kind of aging are fine winkles, thin and transparent skin, dry and itchy skin, hair loss, unwanted hair etc.

Our skin also prematures early due to various external factors which is known of extrinsic aging. Most of this aging is due to excessive sun exposure. Repetitive facial expressions, gravity, sleeping positions and smoking are the other factors.

Now the relationship between menopause and aging skin is very simple. Our bodies produce less estrogen during menopause which leads to the drying of skin. The skin becomes flaky or cracked when it dries. This can be prevented by drinking a lot of water. Also estrogen creams can compensate for the less estrogen being produced and helps the skin from getting dehydrated. This is because our skin starts thinning due to less estrogen production. Thus we can see that menopause and aging skin are symbiotic in nature.

The reduction in production of estrogen and collagen during menopause causes the skin to wrinkle and sag. The skin in order to remain firm needs collagen and elastin. To increase the production of these hormones you can take estrogen pills during menopause.

Menopause and aging skin has a lot to do with hereditary also. A huge role is played by genetics in how our skin looks as we age. If your relatives have drooping eyelids, sagging jowls and frown lines then the probability is that you would also end up looking like that. But a huge difference can be made by the care you take for your skin.

Women who grew up in sixties and seventies used to spend their days basking in the sun with tanning oils in hopes of a dark tan. But this became the main reason for wrinkles and skin cancer as all the sun exposure is another reason for skin damage. To prevent skin damage use a sun protector with ultraviolet ray protector. Various such products are available in the market which can prevent skin damage and hence skin aging.

Menopause and aging skin are also due to smoking. Smoking can lead to you getting deeper and more permanent wrinkles. Smoking damages the elastin production and hence causes biochemical changes in the body that speeds up aging process. The deepness of the facial wrinkles depends on the amount of time spent in smoking and the number of cigarettes consumed.

Thus menopause and aging skin can be prevented by taking care of your body. This can be done by using sunscreens, moisturizers, consuming healthy food and drinks. Consult a doctor or a nutritionist if you develop some problem or for further guidance. Menopause and aging skin is a painful part of every woman's life, but if tackled with practicality and courage it can become a very enjoyable experience