Menopause officially starts one year after you have your last menstrual period. The average American woman enters menopause at age 51 — but even before menopause begins, your hormone levels start changing.
Estrogen and progesterone are the two main female hormones. They influence reproduction and certain female characteristics, and these hormones naturally decline as you get older and approach menopause.
These hormonal changes are natural. However, dropping hormone levels can trigger a range of symptoms. The best-known symptoms of menopause might be hot flashes or mood swings, but unfortunately, menopause symptoms aren’t limited to the way you feel inside.
Your skin, hair, and body weight could also change. Navigating menopause and its symptoms can feel overwhelming. That’s why Farly Sejour, MD, Natalie Gould, WHNP-BC, and our team at Solace Women's Care offer personalized menopause support for our patients.
If you’ve noticed changes in the way your skin looks or feels, now’s the time to learn how your appearance is affected by menopause.
Estrogen controls female reproduction, among a variety of other female characteristics. But did you know it also affects skin health?
Estrogen influences two key elements of your skin: water retention and collagen production. Water retention is a key element of skin plumpness. But as your estrogen levels decline, so does the amount of water in your skin.
Lower estrogen also means that your body produces less collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes skin firm and resilient, and loss of collagen can also contribute to noticeable skin changes.
Lack of hydration and declining collagen production contribute to the signs of aging in your skin. You might notice skin issues like:
Hormonal changes can also cause unwanted hair to grow on your face, such as your upper lip or your chin.
Dropping estrogen levels can have a significant impact on your skin, and that’s not even the only physical attribute that it affects — it also influences hair growth and fullness.
High estrogen levels often mean hair is thicker, fuller, and fast-growing. Lower estrogen, on the other hand, means you might experience thinning hair and increased hair loss. During and after menopause, you may find that you shed more and that your head hair isn’t as full as it once was.
Hormones also influence body weight and metabolism. As your estrogen and progesterone levels decline with age, your risk of gaining excess weight could increase.
Women are more likely to gain weight around the abdomen during and after menopause, but menopause alone isn’t to blame. Other factors that influence your body weight include genetics and lifestyle habits, like diet and exercise.
People tend to lose muscle mass and gain body fat as they get older. Plus, you might become less active as you age. To lower your risk of gaining excess weight with menopause, talk to our team to find out how to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Dr. Sejour and our team specialize in helping women make healthy changes before, during, and after menopause. We’re here to educate you about eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise to reduce the negative effects of menopause.
Schedule an appointment at Solace Women's Care to learn more. Call our Conroe, Texas, office at 936-441-7100 or send us a message online.
