5 Myths About Menopause And Aging Skin
Aging skin and menopause is why some women are scared to cross their 50s. However, this occurs because people have spread several myths about both issues. So, we listed 5 myths about menopause and aging that you should debunk.
- NOT TRUE: menopause symptoms are the same for all women
Due to the fact that most women are uncomfortable talking about their sexuality, many women still fall victim to the misconceptions of menopause.
People often hear about common symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, dry vagina, painful sex, and all such things; thinking that once they enter menopause, they are going to experience all of these common symptoms.
But this can’t be further from the truth. In reality, women will experience symptoms of menopause differently. Some women have more struggles with hot flashes and night sweats; some women will deal more with a lack of sex drive and dry vaginas.
Besides, women experiencing various menopausal syndrome differently, they also enter this phase in different ways.
The period before menopause is called perimenopause. Here, women could experience intermittent periods. Hot flushes, agitation and sleeplessness are also common.
Per an article on the University of Vermont Health Network website, no two women have the same experience during these phases of mid-life changes.
In the end, the set of symptoms depends on the individual. So, not all women will experience exactly the same issues just because they are all above the age of 50. A woman’s general health also plays a role here.
- NOT TRUE: menopause is the only thing that causes dry skin
A lot of women may suddenly experience a case of dry skin once they enter menopause. This is actually quite common, but this isn’t always necessarily a given.
When you have entered menopause, your hormones are fluctuating and eventually enough, your sex hormones will decrease in volume. This can cause changes in your skin, as well as the skin of your vagina.
However, menopause itself isn’t the only reason your ageing skin is losing moisture. For one, it is dehydration! Yup, a lot of people’s skin gets dry and saggy as they age actually because of a lack of proper hydration.
When your skin has been deprived of proper hydration for many numbers of years, eventually enough, you see this skin that suddenly looks really crusty. Proper hydration by drinking high-quality water is more necessary than skincare at this point.
- NOT TRUE: after menopause, I can’t have sex anymore
Can you believe that some women have a firm belief in the idea of not being able to have sex once they reach menopause? Are you one of such women? This is actually not true at all.
Meaning, just because a woman has reached menopause, she does not automatically lose her ability to have sex. It is not necessarily the case that your vagina will forever be dry as a desert just because you are already in menopause.
Menopause is represented by less estrogen secretion. A situation that results in thin vaginal walls and a dry vagina.
Yes, a dry vagina is a real struggle for a lot of women once menopause is a regular part of life, but this situation can be improved with some lifestyle changes.
As such sex would feel like a sanding a plank of wood for some women. This is a far cry from their 30s when they lubricated on impulse.
But it doesn’t mean that you not can make love. Per an article on the WebMD website, you can still do so comfortably if you use certain interventions to ease the dryness.
If you maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, sex is still pretty much possible, as long as you want it. If you are with the right person whom you like and feel comfortable with, sex as an older woman can be your best sex yet.
- NOT TRUE: sex after menopause is always painful
In another world, there are also women who believe that sex after menopause will always be painful. And as such, these women may dread the idea of reaching menopause so much because they fear the pain that comes with regular sex after menopause.
But again, this is not always true. Sex that feels painful when it comes to penetrative sex can happen at any stage in life for everybody. Basically, penetrative sex will be painful if your vagina is not wet enough to allow friction to be reduced.
And as such, painful sex is not just caused by menopause. Even then, when sex after menopause is painful, this is not normal and shouldn’t be accepted. Sex is never supposed to be painful or uncomfortable in general.
If a dry vagina has caused penetrative sex to be painful, talk to your gyno to get professional advice.
- NOT TRUE: women suddenly reach menopause at a determined age
Lastly, one of the biggest misconceptions about menopause is that it suddenly just arrives in a woman’s life the moment she reaches a certain age. And then, suddenly, just like that, her skin becomes immediately saggy and she gains weight!
POP, just like that! This is not true at all as in reality, a woman’s body goes through a process until she finally reaches her last drop of menstrual blood. A period of perimenopause happens roughly 8 to 10 years before a woman is truly menopausal.
In this case, some women would experience peri-menopausal signs as early as their late 30s. For some of these women, the changes could be drastic and fast.
By the time they reach their 40s, they may be staring at menopause.
Yet other women may have a pretty slow transition, feeling nothing significant until they reach their early 60s. Per an article on the Ageless Restoration Medicine website, a good indicator of when you start this phase is to mirror your mothers transitioning years.
Perimenopause carries most of these symptoms affiliated with menopause. It’s basically like your second puberty. Your body is going through changes and you may even develop pimples again because your hormones are changing.
With that, dry skin can also happen for a lot of women. The symptoms are not always the same for all women.
In the end, five myths about menopause and aging skin were debunked. People can easily believe whatever they hear about both issues. We are sure the facts we provided can help you debunk these myths as well.
How Does Menopause Affect Skin Aging?
Menopause, also known as the “change of life,” is a natural process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. During this time, the body goes through significant hormonal changes, leading to a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. One major aspect of menopause that often goes unnoticed is its impact on skin aging. This paper will explore the effects of menopause on skin aging, including hormonal changes, collagen loss, and potential treatments.
Hormonal changes are a defining characteristic of menopause, and they play a significant role in skin aging. Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin. It helps regulate collagen production, skin thickness, and moisture levels. As women approach menopause, their estrogen levels decline, leading to changes in the skin. The decline in estrogen causes a decrease in collagen production, which is responsible for the skin’s firmness and elasticity. As a result, the skin becomes thinner, drier, and more prone to wrinkles and sagging.
Another hormone, progesterone, also declines during menopause. It is responsible for regulating oil production in the skin, and its decrease can lead to dry, itchy skin. Moreover, the decline in these hormones causes a decrease in blood flow to the skin, leading to a duller complexion and slower skin cell turnover. This results in a buildup of dead skin cells, making the skin appear rough and uneven.
Collagen loss is another significant factor contributing to skin aging during menopause. Collagen is a protein found in the skin, responsible for its strength and elasticity. As women age and go through menopause, the production of collagen decreases, leading to thinner and weaker skin. This loss of collagen is responsible for the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. In addition, collagen loss can also cause the skin to lose its ability to retain moisture, making it appear dry and dull.
The effects of menopause on skin aging are not limited to the face; they also extend to the rest of the body. As estrogen levels decline, there is a decrease in the production of oils and fats, resulting in drier skin. This can cause the skin to lose its elasticity, leading to sagging and wrinkling of the skin on the neck, arms, and hands. Moreover, the decrease in estrogen can also affect the skin’s ability to heal, making it more vulnerable to bruising and other injuries.
Fortunately, there are several treatments available to help combat the effects of menopause on skin aging. One of the most effective and popular treatments is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This therapy involves taking estrogen and/or progesterone supplements to replenish the hormones that are lost during menopause. By increasing the levels of these hormones, HRT can help improve skin elasticity, firmness, and moisture levels, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Another treatment option for menopausal skin is the use of topical products containing retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids. These ingredients help stimulate collagen production and improve the skin’s overall texture and tone. Additionally, using moisturizers and creams with hyaluronic acid can help retain moisture and improve the skin’s hydration levels.
In addition to these treatments, making lifestyle changes can also have a positive impact on menopausal skin. Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can help maintain healthy skin during menopause. Including foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, can help protect the skin from free radical damage and slow down the aging process.
In conclusion, menopause has a significant impact on skin aging due to hormonal changes, collagen loss, and other factors. The decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as collagen production, leads to dry, dull, and wrinkled skin. However, with the right treatments and lifestyle changes, women can minimize the effects of menopause on their skin and maintain a healthy, youthful appearance. As more research is conducted on this topic, we can hope for even more effective treatments for menopausal skin aging in the future.
