Can Perimenopause Make Your Skin Look Older?
Can Perimenopause Make Your Skin Look Older?
It is a question more people ask than you might think. And before you rush off to buy something, book something or change your entire skincare routine, it is worth taking a breath and looking at the bigger picture.
Yes, it can.
And if you have reached your 40s and suddenly feel as though your skin has changed almost overnight, you are certainly not imagining it.
You might notice that your skin looks a little less plump. Fine lines seem more obvious. Your moisturiser disappears without making much difference. Your face feels drier, duller or more sensitive. Perhaps you are suddenly getting spots again after years of relatively well-behaved skin.
Welcome to the rather unpredictable world of perimenopausal skin.
Perimenopause can begin several years before menopause, and during this time hormone levels can fluctuate considerably. These hormonal changes can affect far more than periods, sleep and temperature. They can affect your skin too. The NHS includes dry and itchy skin among the recognised changes associated with perimenopause and menopause.
The good news is that you do not simply have to accept that your skin has suddenly "gone old".
Understanding what has changed means we can change how we look after it.
1. Understand What Oestrogen Has Been Doing for Your Skin
As hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause and change further through menopause, your skin can become drier, less elastic and more sensitive.
Oestrogen plays an important role in supporting collagen, hydration, oil production and the skin’s natural barrier. As oestrogen levels change, your skin may retain less water and gradually lose some of its plumpness and elasticity.
That can translate into:
Fine lines becoming more noticeable
Skin looking less plump
Dryness that you have never experienced before
A slightly crepey appearance
Increased sensitivity
Less firmness around the jawline
Changes around the eyes
Dullness
Changes in pigmentation
Occasional adult breakouts
This is why simply buying a richer version of your old moisturiser does not always solve the problem.
Your skin itself may have changed.
2. Do Not Assume Your Old Skincare Routine Is Still Right
This is probably one of the biggest mistakes we see.
You may have used essentially the same skincare routine for ten years, but if your skin has changed, those same products may no longer be giving you the results they once did.
Then you wonder why nothing seems to work anymore.
Your cleanser might now be too stripping.
Your exfoliator may suddenly feel too aggressive.
Products designed for oily skin might leave your skin feeling tight and uncomfortable.
The moisturiser you loved in your 30s may no longer provide enough hydration.
Equally, piling lots of heavy products onto your skin isn’t necessarily the answer either.
The aim is to reassess your skin as it is now, rather than continuing to treat the skin you had five or ten years ago.
How to do it:
For one week, pay attention to your skin immediately after cleansing and again during the afternoon.
Does it feel tight?
Does it become shiny but still feel dehydrated?
Does foundation settle into lines?
Are certain areas flaky?
Are products suddenly stinging?
Are you seeing redness that wasn’t there previously?
These little clues can tell you far more than simply describing your skin as “dry”, “oily” or “combination”.
If you’re unsure what has changed, a professional skin assessment can be a much better starting point than buying another collection of products and hoping for the best.
You can learn more about our skin analysis and skin rejuvenation options here.: Skin Analysis and Skin Rejuvenation at Relaxation Centre
3. Start Treating Hydration as a Priority
One of the most noticeable changes during this stage of life can be a loss of hydration.
And dehydrated skin can make fine lines and uneven texture look more noticeable.
When the surface of your skin is properly hydrated, it reflects light better, looks smoother and feels more comfortable. When it is dehydrated, every little line suddenly appears to have invited three friends along with it.
So rather than immediately reaching for the strongest anti-ageing product you can find, get the basics right first.
Try this:
Cleanse gently rather than trying to make your skin feel “squeaky clean”.
Apply your hydrating products to slightly damp skin.
Follow with an appropriate moisturiser to help reduce water loss.
Avoid constantly stripping the skin with scrubs and strong acids.
Give products several weeks of consistent use instead of changing everything every few days.
If your skin feels tight immediately after cleansing, that is often a clue that your cleanser or cleansing routine needs reviewing.
For skin that needs a professional hydration boost, our Hydro Facial treatments can be adapted to individual concerns, combining cleansing, hydration and skin-rejuvenation techniques.
Find out more about Hydro Facials
4. Protect the Collagen You Still Have
Collagen provides much of the structure and support that helps keep skin looking firm.
Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause are associated with changes in collagen and skin structure. Collagen loss can become more noticeable around and after menopause, which can contribute to changes in firmness and elasticity.
There are two sides to tackling this.
First, protect the collagen you already have.
Second, support healthy skin renewal and collagen production where appropriate.
One of the most important things you can do is remarkably unexciting:
Wear SPF.
Every day.
Not simply when you are sitting beside a swimming pool in Spain.
UVA reaches your skin throughout the year and contributes to premature skin ageing, pigmentation and collagen breakdown.
Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher as the last stage of your morning skincare routine.
Apply it to:
Your face
Your neck
Your décolletage
Your ears
The backs of your hands
Those last three are frequently forgotten until suddenly they aren’t.
5. When you notice changes in your skin, there can be a temptation to throw everything at it.
Strong retinol.
Acids.
Scrubs.
Vitamin C.
Peels.
Another serum somebody recommended on Instagram.
All introduced on Tuesday night.
Please don’t.
Perimenopausal skin can become more sensitive, so introducing several new or powerful products at once can leave your skin irritated rather than improved.
The best approach is to keep things simple and introduce new products gradually. Start with a gentle cleanser, moisturiser and daily SPF, then introduce active ingredients one at a time so you can see how your skin responds.
If your skin becomes persistently red, sore, itchy or flaky, it may be time to reassess your routine rather than adding more products.
At The Relaxation Centre, we use AlumierMD professional skincare and can recommend home care according to your individual skin and concerns, rather than simply suggesting the same products for everyone.
Find out more about our AlumierMD facials, peels and home care.
Read about our AlumierMD facials, peels and home care
6. Don’t Over-Exfoliate Dull Skin
Perimenopausal skin can sometimes look dull or uneven, which can make exfoliation tempting.
But more is not necessarily better.
Using scrubs, acids and exfoliating products too frequently can irritate the skin and compromise its natural barrier.
Instead, exfoliation should be appropriate for your skin and your particular concerns.
A carefully chosen home exfoliant may be enough, while a professional peel can provide a more targeted approach to concerns such as dullness, pigmentation, uneven texture or congestion.
At The Relaxation Centre, professional peels can be selected according to your individual skin rather than using the same approach for everyone.
Find out more about our professional peel treatments.
Find out about our professional peel treatments
7. Look Beyond Wrinkles
When someone says their skin suddenly looks older, wrinkles aren’t always the main reason.
It can be a combination of:
Loss of brightness
Uneven pigmentation
Dryness
Less firmness
Changes around the eyes
Rougher skin texture
Loss of that plump, hydrated appearance
When several of these changes happen together, your reflection can suddenly look unfamiliar.
That’s why it’s useful to look at your skin as a whole rather than focusing on one particular wrinkle.
Improving hydration, brightness, texture and overall skin quality can make a noticeable difference to how fresh and healthy your complexion looks.
And sometimes healthier-looking skin makes a bigger difference than trying to eliminate every line.
8. Consider Treatments That Support Skin Quality
Professional treatments can be particularly useful when your skin starts behaving differently, but the right treatment depends on your skin, your concerns and the results you’re hoping to achieve.
AtThe Relaxation Centre in Sandhurst, we offer a range of treatments that can be tailored to different skin concerns.
Hydro Facials
Useful when hydration, congestion, dullness and overall skin freshness are concerns. The treatment can also incorporate technologies designed to support tightening and rejuvenation.
Hydro Facials at Relaxation Centre
Radio Frequency
Radio frequency treatments are designed for clients concerned with skin laxity, fine lines and loss of firmness, with the technology used to support collagen stimulation and skin tightening.
Radio Frequency Skin Treatments
Mesotherapy and Skin Boosting Treatments
These can be considered when the aim is improving overall skin quality, hydration and rejuvenation rather than simply treating one isolated line.
Mesotherapy at Relaxation Centre
Oxygen Facials
Our Oxygen Facial includes options designed around anti-ageing, hydration and pigmentation concerns and can be suitable for a wide range of skin types.
Oxygen Facial at Relaxation Centre
The important thing isn’t choosing the most impressive-sounding treatment.
It’s choosing the right treatment for your skin.
That’s why we recommend discussing your skin and concerns with us first.
9. Don’t Forget Your Neck, Décolletage and Hands
Your face isn’t the only place that experiences skin ageing.
Your neck, décolletage and hands are exposed to years of UV and environmental damage, yet they’re often forgotten when it comes to skincare.
People will happily put a £70 serum on their face and then stop precisely at the jawline.
Start extending suitable skincare further.
In the morning, apply appropriate moisturiser and SPF to your neck, décolletage and hands as well as your face.
In the evening, extend your moisturiser to your neck and décolletage where appropriate.
Small habits repeated every day can make a bigger difference than occasional heroic skincare efforts.
10. Your Skin Is Part of You, Not Separate From You
Perimenopause can affect many aspects of life, and changes in sleep, stress and general wellbeing can also influence how your skin looks and feels.
You don’t need to completely overhaul your lifestyle or become perfect.
Focus on the basics:
Eat a varied, balanced diet
Stay hydrated
Keep active
Protect your skin from excessive UV exposure
Prioritise good sleep where possible
Give yourself time to relax
And remember that skincare and professional treatments work best alongside these everyday habits.
Looking after your skin isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things consistently.
11. Not Every Skin Change Is “Just Hormones”
Perimenopause can certainly affect your skin, but not every new or unusual skin change should automatically be blamed on hormones.
If you notice a persistent rash, unusual pigmentation, a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or another significant unexplained skin change, it’s important to have it assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
The NHS has useful information about the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, including when you may want to speak to your GP. You can read more on the NHS guide to menopause and perimenopause.
At The Relaxation Centre, we can help you understand and care for your skin, and recommend suitable skincare and treatments, but we cannot diagnose medical conditions or advise you about menopause or HRT.
If you’re concerned about your wider menopause symptoms, speak to your GP or a qualified menopause specialist.
That works much better than putting the NHS reference in the lifestyle section because it is directly relevant to knowing when something needs medical attention.
12. Stop Trying to Get Your 25-Year-Old Skin Back
This may be the most important point.
Healthy skin at 45, 50 or 55 doesn’t need to look like skin at 25.
The aim isn’t to remove every expression line or pretend nothing has changed.
It’s about keeping your skin as healthy, hydrated, comfortable and vibrant as possible.
That might mean:
Improving hydration
Supporting the appearance of firmer skin
Improving pigmentation
Smoothing uneven texture
Supporting the skin barrier
Bringing back some brightness
Finding a skincare routine that actually suits your skin now
There’s nothing wrong with wanting your skin to look better.
But you don’t need to buy everything labelled“menopause skincare”either.
Not Sure What Your Skin Needs?
If your skin seems to have changed and the products that used to work suddenly don’t, a professional skin assessment can be a much better starting point than another shopping basket.
At The Relaxation Centre in Sandhurst, we can assess your skin, talk through what you’ve noticed and help you understand which home care and professional treatments may be appropriate for you.
Sometimes you need a treatment.
Sometimes you need better home care.
Sometimes you need both.
And sometimes you need somebody to tell you that you really don’t need half the things you thought you did.
Book your appointment with Relaxation Centre
Relevant Skincare and Treatment Links
AlumierMD Facials, Peels and Home care
