Menopause can be a challenging time for a woman. It usually begins one year after her last period and can bring along several noticeable changes. Follow our tips to care for your skin during menopause with the help of our ChitoCare beauty skin line. 

What Happens During Menopause? 

It is a fact of nature that almost every woman will go through menopause. It marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and occurs roughly 12 months after a woman’s last period. It is a natural part of aging and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. About 7% of women go through premature menopause, experiencing it at 40 to 45 years of age. It is characterized by a fluctuation in hormonal levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, and almost all women (8 in 10) will have additional symptoms that can have a significant impact on their lives.  

What Are the Signs of Menopause? 

Some of these changes are welcome, while others can be unpleasant. Many women enjoy being free of their monthly menstruation, that often came hand-in-hand with PMS, hormonal headaches, cramps, fatigue, even fever and dizziness. In addition, menopause can bring about emotional and social changes that many women find energizing and liberating, such as an increased libido, more free time to travel or improved self-confidence.  

However, menopause is not rosy all the time. Some women can experience negative side-effects that can range from normal, though unpleasant, to downright unexpected. The most common negative symptoms of menopause range from hot flashes, chills, night sweats or sleep problems, to age spots, dry skin, mood swings, weight gain, wrinkles, pimples and thinning hair.  

Treating Menopausal Skin Issues

Fret not, as ChitoCare beauty has developed the perfect skin care line to help you take care of your skin and keep your complexion youthful, glowing and healthy, even during this new and perhaps slightly awkward or stressful chapter in your life. Whatever your menopausal skin care needs, we have got you covered. Here are some common menopausal symptoms and how you can treat them. 

Sun Damage and Age Spots 

Sun damage is the number one cause of premature skin aging. As we naturally age, our body has a reduced production of important substances, such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, that help retain moisture and promote cell renewal. As a result, our skin loses some of its protective qualities and our skin can start to show signs of looseness, dryness or fatigue. Age spots or areas of darker skin can appear on your face, neck, chest, arms and hands.  

What You Can Do   

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF every day, even in the winter. To treat the sensitive skin of your face, use skin care products that help retain moisture and increase hyaluronic acid and collagen production. Remembering to wear gloves when doing house or yard work will help protect them, and always apply moisturizer after washing or when they feel dry. 

We recommend ChitoCare beauty Anti-Aging Repair Serum, that contains hyaluronic acid, prickly pear stem extract and chitosan for intense hydration and moisture control, and ChitoCare beauty Hair, Skin & Nails, that contains active chitosan, a natural wonder of the ocean that supports the body’s natural repair process, as well as other important nutrients and building blocks for the health of your hair, skin and nails. A gentle exfoliator like ChitoCare beauty Body Scrub will also help shed dead skin cells and a toner can help even out skin tone.  

Wrinkles or Dry Skin 

During menopause, the body stops producing collagen and hyaluronic acid at the rate it used to. It also does not retain moisture the way it used to. This can result in skin losing elasticity and looking dull. The skin around the eyes, neck and jawline can start to sag or fine lines and wrinkles can appear. Crow’s feet and upper lip lines might become more evident, while dehydration can cause dry or rough skin. 

What You Can Do 

Nourish your skin with skin care products that contain necessary nutrients. This can be achieved by washing your skin with a creamy cleanser instead of foam or gel soaps, as they can cause dryness and flakiness. Protect your skin from the sun and weather elements by applying a moisturizer that contains SPF and hyaluronic acid. This will help lock in moisture while also supporting the skin’s natural repair process.  

We recommend ChitoCare beauty Face Cream, that can be used both day and night, and ChitoCare beauty Serum Mask, that gives your skin an intense moisture boost. 

Bruises, Rashes, Easily Irritated Skin 

As estrogen levels fall, skin can become thinner, losing it ability to function as a protective barrier. As a result, thin skin can bruise more easily, or wounds can take longer to heal. During menopause, the pH level of the skin also changes, and skin can become more sensitive, with some women developing dryness, rashes and easily irritated skin. If you have existing skin conditions, such as eczema, skin irritation or sensitivity could get worse.  

What You Can Do 

Chose a face cream and body lotion that promotes natural skin healing and protects it from external factors. Use a sunscreen with a high SPF every day, even in the winter. It will prevent your skin from thinning further and protect it from harmful UV sunlight and screen blue light, that can cause irreversible skin damage. Balance your skin’s pH levels by using a mild cleanser, avoiding harsh soaps and moisturizing adequately.  

For irritated skin or wounds, we recommend ChitoCare medical Healing Spray, as it effectively reduces redness, itching and pain, while also protecting from infection. For your body and face, we recommend ChitoCare beauty Body Lotion and ChitoCare beauty Face Cream, that contain chitosan and antioxidants, providing you with softer, firmer skin. These products are also suitable for sensitive or eczema-prone skin. 

Pimples or Acne 

Pimples and acne can be annoying and even painful. And they do not show up just in teenagers. In fact, menopausal women can also break out in spots. This is because, much like during adolescence, hormones are all over the place during menopause as well. However, menopausal skin is thinner and drier than teenage skin, making teenage skin products too harsh.  

What You Can Do 

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser as opposed to a harsh soap and avoid acne products that can dry out already sensitive skin. Using a toner can significantly improve hydration levels without leaving your skin feeling dry or rough. Finding age-appropriate skin care products will help combat pimples or other types of acne, while helping your skin remain healthy, smooth and supple.  

We recommend treating your skin with ChitoCare medical Wound Healing Gel, as it reduces inflammation, redness and pain, while protecting against infections and scarring.  

Hair Loss or Facial Hair 

Another side-effect of menopause can be thinning hair on the head. This can look like a widening parting or receding hairline. Other women experience the opposite: increased facial hair. When it comes to hair loss, the earlier you start treating it the better. Many things can cause hair loss, and one common reason is a reduced production of silica. 

In reverse, added facial hair is a result of decreasing female hormones, and hair can show up under the chin, along the jawline or around the lips. Waxing, epilation and depilatory creams can leave the skin feeling painful, irritated, puffy and red. So, it is important to treat your skin gently, especially after hair removal. 

What You Can Do 

For hair loss, make sure you replenish your organism with the necessary nutrients and ingredients needed for healthy hair growth, such as collagen and antioxidants. An obvious solution is a healthy and varied diet high in vitamins and nutrients, so a nutritional review might be helpful in determining what your specific needs are. Food supplements can work wonders, as they can provide us with important nutrients and ingredients.  

We recommend ChitoCare beauty Hair, Skin & Nails, a revolutionary bioactive formula, rich in natural nutrients that play a vital role in maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails. This Icelandic formula contains an exclusively patented bioactive fiber, supplemented with marine collagen Type II rich in glycosaminoglycans, algal minerals, as well as vitamin C, zinc and selenium to maintain normal hair, skin and nails and contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

If your skin needs some love and care after hair removal, try out ChitoCare medical Healing Spray to reduce redness, relieve pain and promote your skin’s natural repair process. 

Now you know what to expect, you can take the right steps towards minimizing these unpleasant changes that occur during menopause, while also reinventing yourself and treating yourself to some pampering and self-care. If you notice extreme changes that are worrying, persistent or that cannot be treated with conventional methods, seek out the advice of your doctor, as menopausal changes do manifest differently in each woman.