How Perimenopause & Menopause Affect Your Skin
What Happens to Your Skin During Perimenopause & Menopause?
If your skincare routine suddenly doesn’t seem to work the way it used to, you’re not imagining it. During perimenopause and menopause, hormonal changes can affect much more than your cycle. Your skin can change too — sometimes surprisingly quickly.
You may notice that your skin feels drier, looks less plump, becomes more sensitive, develops more noticeable fine lines or seems to lose some of its firmness. Pigmentation, breakouts and changes in texture can also become more noticeable. Understanding why these changes happen can make it much easier to adjust your skincare routine and choose treatments that support your skin during this stage of life.
WHY DOES SKIN CHANGE DURING PERIMENOPAUSE?
Perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause. During this time, hormone levels — particularly estrogen — begin to fluctuate. Estrogen plays an important role in skin health. It helps support several characteristics we associate with healthy, youthful-looking skin, including:
• Collagen production
• Skin thickness
• Hydration
• Elasticity
• Natural oil production
• Skin barrier function
• Wound healing
As estrogen levels fluctuate and eventually decline, these processes can change too. The result? Your skin at 45 may behave very differently than it did at 35 — even if you haven't changed anything in your routine.
1. COLLAGEN BEGINS TO DECLINE
One of the most significant changes associated with menopause is the loss of collagen. Collagen provides structural support to the skin and helps keep it looking firm, smooth and plump. We naturally lose collagen as we age, but declining estrogen around menopause can accelerate this process.
As collagen decreases, you may begin noticing:
• Fine lines becoming more visible
• Deeper-looking wrinkles
• Less firmness
• Looser-looking skin
• Changes around the jawline and neck
• Less plumpness in the cheeks
This is why treatments that focus on supporting collagen production and skin firmness can become especially valuable during your 40s, 50s and beyond.
2. YOUR SKIN MAY BECOME MUCH DRIER
That moisturizer you’ve used for years suddenly isn’t enough. Sound familiar? Hormonal changes can reduce the skin's ability to retain moisture and may also decrease natural oil production. The skin barrier can become less efficient at holding onto water.
You might notice:
• Tightness after cleansing
• Flaking or roughness
• Dull-looking skin
• Makeup settling differently
• Fine lines appearing more noticeable
• Skin that feels dehydrated even after moisturizing
This is a great time to focus on ingredients that help hydrate and support the skin barrier, including hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin and squalane. Professional hydrating treatments can also help replenish moisture and improve the appearance of dry, dull skin.
3. SKIN CAN BECOME THINNER
Estrogen helps support skin thickness. As estrogen declines, the skin can gradually become thinner and more delicate. This can contribute to increased sensitivity and make some people notice bruising, redness or irritation more easily.
This is also why your skin may no longer tolerate the same aggressive exfoliants or active ingredients you once used. More isn't always better. During this stage, protecting and supporting the skin barrier becomes increasingly important.
4. ELASTICITY & FIRMNESS CAN DECREASE
Collagen isn't the only structural component of your skin that changes with age. Elastin, which helps skin return to its original shape after being stretched — also changes over time. Combined with collagen loss, changes in facial fat and other age-related structural changes, this can contribute to:
• Skin laxity
• A softer jawline
• Changes around the mouth
• Crepey-looking skin
• Looser-looking neck skin
Treatments such as Radio Frequency skin tightening are designed to gently heat targeted layers of the skin and support collagen production, making them a popular option for clients concerned about firmness and skin laxity.
5. PIGMENTATION MAY BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE
Those years of sunshine have a way of showing up later. Sun exposure accumulated throughout your life can become increasingly visible as you age. Hormonal fluctuations can also influence pigmentation in some people.
You may notice:
• Brown spots
• Uneven-looking skin tone
• Areas of hyperpigmentation
• Existing pigmentation becoming more noticeable
This makes daily sunscreen one of the most important skincare products during perimenopause, menopause and beyond. Broad-spectrum SPF should be worn every day — not just during summer. Ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid and other brightening ingredients can also be incorporated into a routine depending on your skin's needs.
6. YOU CAN STILL GET BREAKOUTS
Wrinkles AND breakouts? Unfortunately, yes. Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can sometimes contribute to adult acne, particularly around the chin and jawline.
At the same time, your skin may be becoming drier and more sensitive. This means treating menopausal breakouts the same way you treated acne as a teenager may be far too aggressive. The goal is usually to address congestion while still protecting hydration and the skin barrier.
7. CELL TURNOVER SLOWS DOWN
When we're younger, skin naturally renews itself relatively quickly. As we age, that process slows. Dead surface skin cells can accumulate, contributing to:
• Dullness
• Rough texture
• Uneven-looking skin
• Less radiance
• Makeup that doesn't apply as smoothly
Gentle professional exfoliation — including treatments such as HydraFacial, dermaplaning and microdermabrasion when appropriate for your skin — can help remove surface buildup and reveal smoother, brighter-looking skin.
8. YOUR SKIN MAY BECOME MORE SENSITIVE
Products you've happily used for years may suddenly sting, burn or leave your skin irritated. Changes in the skin barrier and declining oil production can make menopausal skin more reactive. This doesn't necessarily mean you need a complicated skincare routine.
In fact, sometimes the opposite is true. A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen and a few carefully selected active ingredients can be much more effective than layering numerous strong products.
SO, WHAT SHOULD YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE LOOK LIKE?
There isn't one perfect "menopause skincare routine." Your routine should be based on what your skin is doing now, rather than what worked five or ten years ago. However, many women during perimenopause and menopause benefit from focusing on:
Gentle Cleansing - Avoid constantly stripping your skin with harsh cleansers.
Hydration - Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides.
Antioxidants - Vitamin C and other antioxidants can help protect the skin against environmental oxidative stress while supporting brighter-looking skin.
Retinoids - Retinoids can help improve the appearance of fine lines, texture and pigmentation, but they should be introduced gradually — especially if your skin has become sensitive.
Moisturizer - A good moisturizer helps support your skin barrier and reduce moisture loss.
Daily SPF - This is non-negotiable if your goal is healthy-looking skin as you age. UV exposure contributes significantly to visible skin aging and pigmentation.
And remember: your routine doesn't need ten products to be effective.
Consistency usually matters more than complexity.
