Skin and Menopause

The skin is one of the body’s major organs, and it is greatly influenced by the effects of ageing and menopause. Menopause is the cessation of menstrual cycles caused by ovarian function decline. The skin is an endocrine organ and a significant receptor for hormones such as oestrogen, androgens, and cortisol. Menopause-related hormonal changes can cause issues with the skin and its supporting structures, resulting in a reduction in collagen, hydration, flexibility, thickness, and quality across all skin layers. Menopausal symptoms of the skin and mucosa include dryness and pruritus, thinness and atrophy, wrinkles and sagging, impaired wound healing, and decreased vascularity, but premalignant and malignant lesions of the skin and indicators of skin ageing are mainly brought about by environmental causes. Menopausal hair symptoms include altered hair quality and structure, decreased hair growth and density on the scalp (diffuse effluvium due to follicular rarefication and/or androgenetic alopecia of female pattern), and increased unwanted hair growth on facial areas. Menopause treatments, particularly hormone replacement therapy, appear to alter their effects on the basic components of the skin as well as the more intricate structures existing in the skin, thereby slowing the ageing process of the skin. The visibility of these diseases has been found to generate significant anxiety and to have an influence on patients’ self-esteem and quality of life. The cosmetic and pharmaceutical businesses have investigated formulations to improve skin quality in order to enable women have a better quality of life throughout this phase of their lives.