subject: Dry Skin And Menopause - Relief For Women [print this page] Most women in their mid to late forties are aware of all the talk about menopause, and maybe know quite a few of the symptoms of menopause as well by now. There are however a few that some women really dont talk about, not because they are so devastating but maybe because they arent sure its related to menopause.
What Im talking about is the dry skin that is many times associated with menopause in women. How can this be attributed to menopause, you say? Well there is some debate about whether these symptoms are just typical aging symptoms or really menopausal, but many doctors agree these symptoms are related to hormonal changes in women. Of course dry skin is related to aging since it happens in both men and women, but this is accelerated in women due to the decline of estrogen.
As you are probably aware, the sun can damage your skin and age it as well. Also the habits of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, certain medications, and to some extent even genetics can also contribute to your skin tone and dryness at this age. However, the collagen and elastin fibers that keep your skin youthful and supple slowly start to deteriorate with the loss of estrogen in your body. This is when the wrinkles start to appear, of course. As the skin starts to stretch with gravity, it becomes looser and the wrinkles are made even more apparent. Dont you wish you could trade this birthday suit in for a new one?
This is all great news to you, Im sure. But the real question is, how can we stop this layer of skin on our bodies from looking like an alien life form? First of all, lets talk about some prevention mainly from the sun. If you live in a state where there is plenty of sunshine, such as Arizona or Florida, be sure to always wear some protection in the form of sun screen. Use an SPF of at least 25, so that you can be sure it will actually protect you well, too. This is a great habit to get into, putting a little lotion on the face every day is nearly every womans habit already, so if you find one with sun screen just use that and be protected. Your skin will last longer, even if not forever.
There are also lotions that you can use called natural estrogen cream, these can help keep your skin looking more youthful if used on a regular basis. They actually contain a natural form of estrogen, and can go to work directly on the skin faster than an oral medication. Talk to your doctor if you are taking any kind of estrogen therapy, since getting too much of a good thing can sometimes be bad. Generally these natural estrogen creams are considered safe, however.
Another type of skin cream you may have heard of is retinoids, commonly known as retin-A in the stores. These creams work by smoothing out skin pigmentation, reducing the brown spots associated with aging, and making the skin somewhat plumper where used. This usually takes a few weeks to show improvement, but they have been proven at least somewhat effective for most women that have tried it. And of course, dont forget to drink plenty of water since that can really make a difference in how your skin holds up, too.
