October is World Menopause Month, so we have called upon Alice Mackintosh, co-founder and nutritionist at Equi London, to answer some of the most common beauty questions associated with 'the change'.
Equi London began six years ago, when Alice helped her lifelong friend Rosie Speight resolve the hormonal breakouts that she had tried everything to clear since she had stopped taking the pill.
Alice's approach - involving a full range of individual vitamins, minerals, gut supporting ingredients, herbs, and superfoods - left Rosie’s skin clearer and brighter, but she felt amazing, and despite a busy job in the City, felt energised, balanced, calmer and stronger. It was a solution that only a registered nutritionist could provide, and it sparked the idea a new simplified approach to holistic nutrition that two years later became Equi.
All of their formulas have been developed to nourish and balance the body’s 10 interconnected systems including skin, hormones, digestion, energy, and mind, with specific ranges targeting pregnancy and menopause.
Here we ask Alice some of the most pressing questions about how menopause changes skin and hair...
How does menopause change the skin and hair?
Menopause comes at a time in life when we have developed much wisdom and are enjoying our strongest sense of self, yet this transition can often destabilise us overwhelmingly. Whilst symptoms of mood, hot flushes, aches, pains, and low libido are really common during peri-menopause, many women I speak to in my clinic experience changes to their skin and hair as well. Firstly, when it comes to your complexion, you might notice that skin loses its elasticity and youthful volume, and you may be more prone to sagging or jowls. This is because collagen, the protein in the skin that helps to keep skin firm, decreases by around 30% in the first five years after menopause owing to a decrease in oestrogen. Wrinkles that used to appear only with a smile or frown can become visible all the time. You may also notice more fragile skin underneath your eyes, causing pouches.
Dark spots and acne are also common side effects of menopause. When estrogen levels drop during peri-menopause (and after the menopause) the effects of your androgen hormones (i.e. testosterone) are proportionally stronger. For some women this means acne – just when you thought those blemish prone days were over!
'As oestrogen levels decline, the body produces fewer oils'
The problem is that a lot of acne products on the shelves can cause further breakouts for women, as they are too harsh on their thinner and sensitive mature skin. Dark spots, also known as melasma, can appear on the cheeks, lips, and forehead. This is caused by a combination of hormonal changes and sun exposure throughout their life. The underlying hormone responsible for triggering the melanocytes to release too much pigment is MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone), which becomes more active during peri-menopause.
Menopause can also cause changes to the hair too. Oestrogen stimulates the body's production of oils, which keeps the scalp naturally moisturised. As oestrogen levels decline, the body produces fewer oils, and the scalp can become more prone to dryness and itching. A lot of shampoos contain ingredients that are harsh on the scalp and will only exacerbate the itchiness. Strong chemical detergents like sulphates and salts are there to cut through grease but are extremely harsh on the scalp.
Silicone is also another ingredient to be aware of, as this claims to make the hair shiny but can stress the scalp out more. Hair loss is also possible due to the changes in hormones, but keep in mind that it can also be associated with thyroid issues which are common as we get older. It’s also vital to keep an eye on your iron levels, especially if periods are heavy during peri-menopause, as this can lead to hair loss.
Finally, some women may notice hairs sprouting on the upper lip or chin due to hormonal fluctuations during menopause, namely related to testosterone.
If you’re reading this and panicking then just remember that the good news is that we can do a lot about many of these changes to help curb their effects, so don’t give up hope!
The best beauty supplements for menopause
Women's Biotic
£34 at cytoplan.co.uk
Credit: Cytoplan
Novomins Meno-Balance
£20 at novomins.com
LYMA The LYMA Supplement
£195 at lyma.life
Credit: LYMA
Menopause Formula (Powder)
£55 at equilondon.com
Credit: Equi
Revive Collagen Menopause Max Collagen Drink
Now 98% Off
£1 at revivecollagen.com
Credit: Revive Collagen
Happy Mammoth MenoDaily
£70 at happymammoth.com
How are these changes first noticeable?
For sagging skin, you want to pay particular attention to the eyelids, jowls, chin, and throat. If the skin in these areas begins to lose its firmness and elasticity during menopause, it is a good idea to invest in a high-quality supplement routine and balanced diet, to help to hormones and slow down these effects.
Melasma is a skin condition that starts off slowly and then becomes more obvious, especially in summer months when you’re exposed to sunlight. It’s a condition that can creep up on you, not being obvious at first but later leaving you with darkened patches of skin that become more visible as time goes on. Pay attention to the patches of skin that have regular contact with sunlight —i.e. the whole face and neck —and be aware of melasma developing there. Regular dermatological consultations are advised throughout menopause so you can spot the differences between hyperpigmentation and melasma, so you can get the right care.
Like other hormonal types of acne, menopausal acne affects the face and is characterised by deep, tender bumps or cysts. Menopausal acne can also appear as blackheads, whiteheads, and pus-filled spots around the T-zone too. It's common to see acne appear in conjunction with excess facial hair, especially on the chin and upper lip.
'Ask your dermatologist about treatments to improve brightness to the skin'
An itchy scalp is a common problem that occurs during menopause and sometimes it is accompanied by visible signs, such as scabbed or flaking skin and red patches. If you find your scalp is irritated after a long, hot shower, this could also be the first signs of a dry and itchy scalp during menopause.
What can be done to prevent or support peri-menopausal changes?
When it comes to the diet – you may have heard it before but time and time again, the research shows the numerous benefits of eating a more Mediterranean style diet, because this can decrease inflammation in the body. It’s also fresh, vibrant, colourful, and rich in a wide array of goodness from protein, fats, complex carbs, and fibre as well as nourishing vitamins and minerals. Choosing this type of diet rich in unrefined carbs, colourful veg, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, and modest meat means you get less of the added sugar, processed foods and charred red meats.
Ask your dermatologist about treatments to improve brightness to the skin and remember to apply SPF daily in all seasons to reduce melasma or hyper-pigmentation. Formulas that include the ingredient ‘pine bark’ are also incredibly nourishing and can help to strengthen the skin against sun damage. This ingredient can help with pigmentation prone skin, combatting brown marks and patchiness resulting from sun exposed skin. Supplementing with Lycopene can also have photo-protective effects on the skin.
For haircare, avoid long hot showers which can further dry out the scalp. As well as this, you should use mild, natural shampoos and avoid harsh soaps as this can be drying. Follow this up with a nourishing moisturiser, ensuring you are always moisturising after showers. For your scalp, avoid hair products with too many synthetic fragrances, colours, sulphates, and parabens.
Diet wise – the hair needs the right levels of iron, b12, vit D, zinc, biotin, and iodine. A balanced Mediterranean diet delivers most of these, but it is always worth getting your levels checked each year because deficiencies are common. Good quality supplements really help fill the gaps but be sure to choose products that have been formulated by an expert because this ensures your body actually gets what it needs.
Whilst the instant solution for increased facial hair is to tweeze, wax, thread, shave or use hair removal creams, the hair can grow back courser and thicker. Alongside balancing hormonal fluctuations via your supplement routine and diet (zinc should have pride of place here as it can help with testosterone levels), more permanent solutions include Electrolysis or Laser Hair Removal. These treatments can be expensive, with many appointments needed to see results.
Research into licensed beauty therapists and book in a consultation to see whether these hair removal treatments can benefit your hair and skin type.
Any supplements and foods that we need to increase during menopause?
Collagen is a protein that gives your skin and other tissues elasticity and supplementing with this, and other nutrients such as zinc, vitamin C and antioxidants have been scientifically shown to encourage brightness, hydration and youthfulness during peri-menopause and menopause.
However, we also need to look deeper into the body to address underlying issues that can lead to changes in our complexion. I advise my clients to look for supplements that provide total body support - rather than just standalone vitamins and minerals – they should provide gut support, hormone balance ingredients and anti-inflammatory nutrients because all of this will impact hair and skin health. It's also a good idea to think about what we can do to keep that collagen healthy - antioxidants and healthy fats are key here to prevent collagen degradation and reduce inflammation.
Probiotics, glutamine, zinc, schisandra, milk thistle, turmeric and super-berries like Goji and Bilberry can all benefit acne-prone skin, so look for these ingredients in your supplements or add them into your healthy eating routine.
As busy women, it can be challenging to find the time to research the information needed for supplementation that will benefit your body throughout menopause. It is also a chore to remember to take a variety of different supplementations daily, and difficult to know what works best together for your body.
We formulated our Menopause Formula for this exact reason. It blends 48 premium, bio-available nutrients specifically selected for their synergistic ability to nourish and boost the female body at a time when it is most in need of balance. Hormonal fluctuations, mood, energy, hot flushes, aches and pains, sugar cravings, skin problems, dryness and a low libido are triggered by changes during this transition and amazingly we have ingredients that target all of this in our all-in-one supplement. Our formula also aids skin rejuvenation, long term bone density, brain health and the cardiovascular system for long term wellbeing.
If dryness is your issue – be that with skin, eyes, vaginal dryness, or flaky skin on the body - it’s a good idea to up your fat intake especially from omega 3 from fish and nuts and seeds such as flaxseed and hempseed oil. These nourish the skin’s cells and help to make our complexion dewier and more hydrated.
You can also look for supplements that contain Sea Buckthorn Oil – the only source of omega 7, which is revered for its moisture bringing properties. It’s been proven to soothe intimate dryness and discomfort in peri-menopausal women, as well as helping with dry skin and eyes. It is also rich in antioxidant vitamin E that helps give skin a natural glow. Equi combine these oils and 4 others into their Menopause Oil Edition, which pairs perfectly with the Menopause Formula.
Emma Gritt
Multiplatform Director
Emma Gritt is the Multiplatform Director of Women's Health UK. I am passionate about all things "woo", beauty gadgets and treatments; cooking; travel; spa visits; gardening; lusting over homeware; animals and nature - I'm a member of my local bat group. I'm also a huge bookworm, and always have at least two books on the go! When I'm not working, I enjoy playing tennis, swimming, cycling, Pilates, and watching horror movies. Prior to joining WH in 2022, I worked as a digital journalist and senior editor at national newspapers, radio stations and international content agencies.
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