The ESK blog
Why is my perimenopausal skin so dry?
19 August 2024
Dr Anne Thomson
Why is my perimenopausal skin so dry?
Ah, perimenopause—what a delightful phase of life, right? Among all the changes happening, skin dryness can be particularly annoying. In one German study of women in a menopause clinic (many of whom were in perimenopause), 64% of women had some kind of skin problems, most of them complaining of dryness.
So, let’s break it down and figure out how to tackle it.
Why So Dry?
Your skin’s moisture levels are closely tied to oestrogen, the fabulous hormone that keeps our skin plump, hydrated, and youthful. During perimenopause, oestrogen levels start to dip, and this has a few direct impacts on your skin: discomfort, flakiness and makeup not sitting right, to name a few.
How does waning oestrogen cause skin dryness?
Skin Barrier Function: Oestrogen helps maintain the skin barrier, which keeps moisture in and irritants out. Less oestrogen means this barrier isn't as effective, leading to more dryness and sensitivity.
Ceramide Production: Ceramides are like the mortar between the bricks of your skin cells, helping to keep everything sealed and hydrated. Oestrogen boosts ceramide production, so when oestrogen drops, so do your ceramide levels. This can really contribute to skin dryness.
Inflammation: Oestrogen has anti-inflammatory properties, so lower levels can mean more skin inflammation, which can further dry out and irritate your skin.
Hydrating and Nourishing Your Skin
Here’s the fun part—what you can do about it:
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Look for moisturisers with skin barrier building properties like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B3 or niacinamide. These ingredients help lock in moisture and repair your skin barrier. Slather them on while your skin is still damp from cleansing or after applying a hydrating serum for maximum absorption.
Repair + is a moisturiser formulated to support skin hydration and barrier function. Its combination of niacinamide, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides is designed to help maintain skin moisture, strengthen the barrier function of the skin, reduce the appearance of redness, and support overall skin texture. Key Features:
Repair +
Gentle Cleansing: Use a mild, slightly acidic, hydrating cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Avoid soaps, harsh scrubs.
Our Calming Cleanser is a non-foaming, coconut sugar-based formula with a gentle pH of 4.5-5, making it ideal for sensitive skin types, including those with eczema and rosacea. This creamy cleanser effectively removes impurities while preserving the skin’s natural hydration and pH balance. Its non-soap formula minimises irritation and dryness, providing a soothing cleanse without disrupting the skin barrier. Designed for sensitive skin, Calming Cleanser avoids harsh ingredients like astringents, camphor, and menthol, which can trigger irritation. Gentle yet thorough, it supports a healthy microbiome and barrier, leaving skin calm, soft, and ready for the next step in your routine. Featuring; A creamy soap-free cleanser for skin that needs a gentle, silky wash.
Calming Cleanse
Add in a Hyaluronic Acid serum: Incorporating a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid can add hydration and help other active ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively.
Our Hydraboost Hyaluronic Acid Serum is designed to provide deep, lasting hydration with a blend of high, medium, and low molecular weight hyaluronic acids (HA). High molecular weight HA sits on the skin’s surface, creating a protective hydration layer that feels smooth and instantly refreshing. Meanwhile, low and medium molecular weight HA molecules sink deeper, boosting hydration within the skin barrier. Studies suggest that low molecular weight HA can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Lightweight and versatile, Hydraboost is perfect for daily use as the first step in your routine for plump, hydrated skin.
Hydraboost HA Serum
Featuring
- Enhanced daily skin hydration
- Plumper, healthier feeling skin
SPF is Non-Negotiable: Sun damage can exacerbate dryness, so make sure to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every day. That means summer and winter, even on cloudy days.
Zinc Shade is a lightweight matte day cream and primer. Its non-greasy, matte finish allows for smooth application and works well under makeup. We spent countless iterations perfecting this lightweight, non-greasy formula to avoid the typical white cast and thick feel of zinc products. The results? A matte finish that works beautifully under makeup. With well tolerated matte finish, it's also well suited to irritable and blemish and bump prone skin. With SPF 15 it also provides broad-spectrum sun protection against UVA and UVB rays. Key features: Lightweight, matte formula suitable for daily use Smooth application with minimal white cast Broad-spectrum UV protection Tested SPF 15 with enhanced UVA coverage Usage: Apply evenly to all exposed areas of skin before sun exposure. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
Zinc Shade
Mister mister; fine water particles sprayed onto the face do help reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of the face, even temporarily. It has also been shown to boost skin elasticity! If you’re working in air conditioning or heating, this could be a quick and easy way to give your face and neck a much needed hydration boost.
Navigating perimenopause can feel like a wild ride, but with the right skincare routine and a little TLC, you can keep your skin feeling comfortable and looking radiant.
Cheers to hydrated, happy skin!