Menopause means less hormones being secreted by the ovary. In particular, less oestrogen is available for the skin leading to its thinning, wrinkling and sagging. After menopause our bodies also make less collagen causing less elasticity and less fat deposition under the skin. This can give an appearance of sagging especially around the jaw line, crow’s feet near eyes and neck.
While all of it cannot be stopped but we can certainly slow down the whole process by keeping the following in mind:
1) Use a hydrating cleanser instead of foam or soaps. As we get older, our skin gets drier and moisture replacement should be part of daily skin care. Choose a creamy cleanser and wipe it off with moist cotton wool.
2) Avoid dehydration of the skin by long warm baths and apply moisturizer while the skin is still moist. This locks in the moisture and keeps the skin youthful for longer. Take extra care of the already wrinkled areas like those around the eyes and rub in moisturizer many times during the day.
3) Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. The reason is post menopausal skin now has less natural protection as compared to when you were younger. Exfoliate regularly to minimize the age spots. Also skin lightening creams can help to hide age spots.
4) Eat multicoloured foods to get sufficient anti oxidants to reduce oxidation damage to the skin. Focus particularly on eating rich deep coloured veggies like spinach, bell peppers etc. Also foods rich in soy and soy milk are especially useful in menopausal symptoms.
5) Reduce stress by doing exercise, meditation or yoga. A stressed out person appears older than her age and it can also trigger immune skin conditions like psoriasis. Also if you are stressed out you may forget your skin care routine. Avoiding smoking can go a long way to give your skin a youthful appearance. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep during the night as a good sleep gives enough time for the secretion of youthful chemicals and keeps our skin fresh for a longer time.