Skin care during perimenopause and after menopause is tricky. Out of nowhere, it can feel like everything you thought you knew about your skin has turned upside down. Suddenly, your favorite go-to skin care essentials no longer cut it, and you’re struggling to figure out how to treat your skin’s needs. From wrinkles to age spots to overall dryness, it’s an overwhelming new world to navigate — not to mention the plethora of products designed for mature skin.
The good news is that you don’t need to overhaul everything you do for your skin. There are a few ways you can easily upgrade your daily skin care regimen after menopause.
Vaginal moisturizer
One of the most important skin care must-haves for perimenopausal and menopausal women is a high-quality vaginal moisturizer. Think about it: Why would you withstand the constant discomfort and irritability of vaginal dryness when there’s something you can do about it? By investing in a vaginal moisturizer with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, you can soothe away that irritation and move on with your life. Use it as part of your daily routine and apply it as often as you need it.
SPF
Wrinkles are one of the biggest concerns of women of all ages. Decreasing estrogen during perimenopause also leads to a decrease in melanocytes, which makes you more prone to sun damage. That’s just one of the reasons some women who have never had skin issues notice that their skin appears to burn more quickly in midlife. A daytime moisturizer with SPF should be a skin care standard — even on cloudy days.
Hydrating serum
If you’ve ever suffered from dry skin, you know the struggle is real. In addition to a good moisturizer, your skin may need a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid. Applied after you cleanse and before your moisturize, it helps restore both moisture and the moisture barrier.
Skin-brightening formula
Age spots or hyperpigmentation are very common for anyone over 40. They can also be one of the most stubborn skin care woes, since they can be difficult to lighten without the right ingredients. Vitamin C, hydroquinone, and niacinamide are all powerful for lightening age spots. In fact, you can use products with niacinamide and vitamin C together, since they complement each other. To learn more about the best skin care ingredients for women over 40, read The 5 Best Anti-Aging Skin Care Ingredients.
Hair regrowth treatment
Healthy hair goes hand-in-hand with healthy skin, and two-thirds of women experience hair loss after menopause. Female pattern hair loss is a common cause, as it results in shrinking hair follicles, which leads to hair thinning. Minoxidil (Rogaine is the best-known brand of minoxidil) is one of the more popular and effective treatments for hair loss, and 60 percent of women have reported hair regrowth while using it. It’s easy to incorporate into your regular a.m. and p.m. skin care routines.
Give your skin what it needs
Addressing your skin’s needs during perimenopause and after doesn’t have to be hard. By making a few adjustments here and there, you can alleviate some of your biggest skin concerns.
As always, if you have a persistent or serious skin issue, see your doctor, and to learn more about creating an effective skin care regimen during perimenopause and after menopause, read How to Create a Simple Skin Care Regimen — and Stick to It!