4 Ways Estrogen Deficiency Affects Your Skin in Menopause

June 30, 2021

Various factors affect your skin including what you eat, genetics, and lifestyle choices, such as smoking. Hormones also affect the skin. Estrogen particularly plays a role in the thickness, moisture, and elasticity of the skin.

Estrogen levels can change throughout a woman’s life, especially during perimenopause and menopause when levels drop. As estrogen levels decline, it’s common for noticeable changes to the skin to develop. Have you reached menopause and began noticing that you have crepey, sagging skin? Well, that loss of estrogen is the culprit.

What Happens to Hormone Levels at Menopause  

The three main hormones that change during menopause are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. All three hormones have an essential function in a woman’s menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, hormone levels change. They may become unpredictable and fluctuate from month to month during perimenopause. Once menopause has occurred, significant hormonal changes occur.

Before menopause, estrogen was produced mostly in the ovaries. At menopause, estrogen production by the ovaries decreases dramatically. After menopause occurs, a small amount of estrogen is still produced in the fat tissue. But the overall estrogen level in the body is very low.

Testosterone levels also decline as a woman gets older. When you think of testosterone, you might think it’s only a male hormone. But women also produce testosterone in much smaller amounts than men.

In a woman’s 20s, her testosterone level peaks and gradually declines. By the time a woman reaches menopause, testosterone levels are about half of what they were in her 20s. Small amounts of testosterone are still made by the ovaries and the adrenal gland even after menopause.

What Symptoms Occur at Menopause

The change in hormones can cause a large number of symptoms. The severity of symptoms varies considerably among women. Some women sail through menopause with only a few minor symptoms. But a larger number of women experience moderate symptoms at least some of the time. Possible symptoms that may occur at menopause include:

• Hot flashes
• Mood changes
• Night sweats
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Vaginal dryness
• Hair thinning
• Weight gain
• Decreased libido

How A Decline in Estrogen Affects the Skin

Since estrogen plays such a big role in the health of the skin, it makes sense that declining levels are going to have a significant effect. Think about what makes the skin look youthful and healthy. Usually, there are three characteristics of youthful skin including texture, moisture, and plumpness. Healthy looking skin is plump, firm and retains its moisture. Unfortunately, all three of these characteristics are affected by declining estrogen levels.

4 Ways Estrogen Deficiency Affects Your Skin in Menopause

Although every woman is different, a decrease in estrogen can have the following effects on the skin:

1. Less Moisture: As estrogen levels decline, the skin tends to become dryer. According to the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, estrogen likely helps maintain moisture in the skin by increasing the amount of hyaluronic and mucopolysaccharides acid in the skin. If the skin loses its moisture, it can look dull and dry and set the stage for fine lines. (1)
2. Decreased Elasticity: Estrogen also plays a vital role in the firmness of the skin. When estrogen levels drop, the result is less collagen production. Collagen is a fibrous protein that gives the skin its elasticity, plumpness, and strength. Less collagen means the skin may thin, sag, and wrinkles may develop. It may not only mean more wrinkles. The depth of the lines may also be deeper. Plus, sagging skin can cause the cheeks to develop a sunken appearance. Research in the Clinical Journal of Aging indicated that estrogen also protects the skin. Estrogen protects from photoaging, which is skin aging due to exposure to ultraviolet light. (2)

3. Reduced Wound Healing: Hormones, including estrogen, affect the skin’s ability to heal. Research in Biogerontology found that although chronological aging slows skin wound healing, it is the decrease in estrogen levels specifically that appears to be the culprit. (3)
4. Increased Susceptibility to Injury: Not only does the skin not heal as quickly when estrogen levels decline, but it may bruise more easily too. There is also a possibility that estrogen provides some protection against damage from UV rays that may lead to skin cancer. According to the Woman Health Research Network at Northwestern University, researchers are starting to study the possible connection between estrogen levels and melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer. (4)

Does a Decline in Progesterone and Testosterone Also Affect the Skin?

The main hormone that affects the skin is estrogen. But it is not the only hormone that may have an effect. To a lesser extent, progesterone and testosterone also play a role in the health and appearance of the skin.

When estrogen levels decline, hormone levels become imbalanced. The imbalance can also lead to some skin changes. A change in progesterone can increase skin dryness, which can leave the skin on your hands and feet cracking.

Testosterone is still produced at low levels after menopause. But too much testosterone can stimulate the oil glands and lead to breakouts. Yes, you can even get pimples in menopause.

A Natural Solution  

A decrease in estrogen sounds like bad news for your skin. The good news is there is something you can do about low hormone levels. A natural approach involves restoring hormonal balance during menopause with bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Restoring declining hormones and maintaining proper balance with bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone provides a natural solution. Bioidentical hormones can improve many menopausal symptoms including the negative effects on the skin.

Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones produced by your body. Every woman’s hormone levels are different. That’s why bioidentical hormones are tailored to each individual woman. It’s not a one-size-fits-all dose. With bioidentical hormones, the lowest dose is adjusted until your menopausal symptoms are resolved.

When estrogen and progesterone levels are improved, it can improve the thickness of the skin and maintain collagen production. Increasing estrogen levels may also improve the production of hyaluronic acid, which helps retain the moisture in the skin. The correct balance of hormones allows the skin to remain hydrated, plump and may also slow the formation of wrinkles.

Are you Estrogen Deficient?

Are you experiencing symptoms and wondering if your hormone levels are not quite right? Take our symptom checker to find out what could be the underlying cause of your symptoms, so that you can get to the root cause. It’s time to get your life back!

Sources

1. menopause.org
2. clevelandclinic.com

References

1. Estrogen and Skin
2. Effect of Estrogens on Skin Aging and the Potential Role of SERMs
3. The Role of Estrogen Deficiency in Skin Ageing and Wound Healing
4. How Hormone Depletion Affects You

Categories: Blog, Blog English, Estrogen, Menopause, skin care, Women(s) Health

Tags: estrogen deficiency, estrogen deficiency affects your skin

One response to “4 Ways Estrogen Deficiency Affects Your Skin in Menopause”

1. Hotze Team says:

   December 10, 2018 at 10:17 pm

   Dear Christinah,

   Thank you for your question. Bioidentical hormones have to be prescribed by a doctor. Our doctors specialize in using bioidentical hormones and we compound them at our pharmacy, Physicians Preference Pharmacy: https://physicianspreferencerx.com/

   Please take our symptom checker to help identify what symptoms you have and what could be the underlying cause: http://makeshift-worm.flywheelsites.com/symptom-checker/

   If we may be of service to you, please call our Wellness Consultants for a complimentary wellness consultation at 281-698-8698. They will be happy to help you!

   To your health,

   Hotze Team

   Reply

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