It is never too early to prepare and protect your skin ready for the inevitable, but if like me, you have not been concerned about ‘the change’ until it has become an imminent, current, or ongoing concern, then fear not as there are many medical (oral, topical and injectable) treatments that can help smooth the turbulent journey that often takes years………….. Aren’t we ladies just so lucky!

As well as explaining why some of the visual changes occur in your face and skin, which I can’t deny, makes for a rather depressing read, I will also share some helpful tips and tricks to help maintain and improve your skin health.

Perimenopause (This is currently my stop……. Oh joy!)

This transitional phase leading to menopause can begin several years before menopause. It’s the time when the ovaries gradually begin to make less oestrogen, which can result in irregular and often heavy periods. It usually starts in a woman’s 40s, but can start in her 30s or even earlier. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. The reduction in the production of oestrogen starts to affect the collagen, elastin and thickness of the skin. Your skin may also be more easily irritated, prone to rashes and acne.

As you enter your 40s, vertical lines begin to appear around your upper lip and if you smoke, they will come faster and go deeper. Nasolabial lines (nose to mouth lines) develop – causing shadows to form in the triangular area between your nose and the corners of your mouth. This is due to bone resorption occurring in your cheek bones and volume loss in your mid face. This loss of bone and fat means lack of support for your skin tissue, causing skin to droop, and your retaining ligament prevents the tissue moving any further, creating a band/fold.

Due to bone resorption and loss of fat in the lower face the skin along the jawline also starts to sag, commonly referred to as jowls, creating an undefined, saggy appearance.

We all know that this can be a difficult time physically and emotionally, but all is not lost and there is lots you can do to give yourself a boost and help your skin! If you have always used fragranced products these may now be very irritating to the skin and cause rashes. Many skin care products are packed with nasty chemicals that are bad for the skin and can actually be carcinogenic. Clean products are even more essential now. I would be using an AHA serum at night as well as Retinol to aid exfoliation of the skin. Skin can start to look dull due to the slower production of new skin and the old skin is being shed slower. If you have already been using a Retinol then your skin won’t be looking as dull, as this will have already been stimulating new skin growth. I would also recommend a serum with peptides, antioxidants and antiglycation ingredients. Medical grade chemical peels are the perfect skin boost, and if you’re using medical grade home skin care, will give optimum results.

Now is the perfect time to start having Profhilo, it is an injectable pure hyaluronic acid that gives intense hydration, increasing elasticity and strengthening the skin. It is bio remodelling and anti-inflammatory, smooths fine lines and tightens and strengthens thinning and crepey skin. This can be used in your face, neck, décolletage and the back of hands.

I also Love Sunekos which is an injectable hyaluronic acid mixed with amino acids. It is specifically designed to renew your skin cells, stimulating the fibroblasts in the skin producing a mix of collagen and elastin. Not only does it dramatically reduce the signs of ageing but it smooths and hydrates your skin. It is extremely versatile and can be used anywhere in the face and around the eyes to help with hollowing, shadowing, lines and crepey skin. It is also fantastic at reducing necklace bands around the neck, tightening and lifting the skin. Sleep lines in the décolletage and sun damage can be dramatically reduced.

Injectable fillers are more commonly used at this age to replace the lost volume, hyaluronic acid and fat pads. They can also give support, structure and contour where loss of bone that normally supports the skin has occurred.

Expressive (dynamic) lines may be deeper, so muscle relaxing injections are another popular treatment to soften the lines caused by muscles in the upper face.

Menopause (brace yourself)

This officially starts 12 months after your last menstrual period.

During the first 5 years of the menopause the level of your collagen is thought to decrease by as much as 30% (compared to 5% in your late 20’s). Your skin starts to function less effectively due to hormonal changes and less active oil glands. The skin barrier becomes compromised, resulting in increased water loss. As a result of all these changes, your skin becomes thinner, very dry and fragile. The hormone oestrogen also has a protective role in wound healing, the continued loss of this hormone therefore means injuries to the skin take longer to recover. You may also become more sensitive due to PH changes and prone to redness and rosacea. Thread veins might also become more visible.

The continued loss of fat and bone structure under the skin means you can also start to develop hollowing, particularly in the area around the eyes, accentuated by the loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. The skin may be sagging more noticeably now, particularly around the cheeks, jaw line and neck.

The backs of your hands can lose moisture, collagen, and fat during menopause. This can make veins more obvious and skin more wrinkled. Your skin can also look more translucent, and bony.

If you’ve spent ample time in the sun without sun protection, you’re likely to see the effects now. Age spots and larger areas of darker skin can appear on your face, hands, neck, arms, or chest. Skin cancer and pre-cancerous skin growths also become more common.

Your home skin care products may need to change now. We all know that cleansing is an important part of any skin care regime, but as your skin gets drier and is in need of extra moisture, you will need to opt for a creamy formula that hydrates instead of foam or gel cleansers, which can strip moisture away. If already using a cream cleanser, one made for more sensitive skin might now be needed. It is even more important to avoid perfumes and chemicals in skin care as they will be more irritating to your skin as you might be more prone to rashes and acne breakouts. High street brands of acne treatments will be too harsh on your skin as they will be designed for teenage acne.

Which Skin Care Brand Should I Use?

The prospect of finding the right skin care can be overwhelming and daunting. I have found this myself and have tried many products over the years with poor results.

I have tested several Professional and home care products since running my own clinic and have finally found the perfect range of home skin care and Professional in clinic treatments that work perfectly together.

I only ever use AlumierMD home skin care now and regularly have an AlumierMD chemical peel that is tailored towards my specific skin care needs, which are ever changing.

AlumierMD is a medical grade Professional and home skin care range that uses ‘clean science’. Once you have had a skin health consultation I can advise you regarding the best home skin care and you can purchase the products online and get them delivered straight to your door. There is no need to purchase them through my clinic.

Why Choose Me to Help You?

A full assessment of your skin is made along with a medical consultation to formulate the most suitable Professional and home treatment plan specifically for you and your lifestyle. This treatment plan might take a multi-modal approach for maximum results.

I offer a comprehensive treatment portfolio to help with ageing skin, including topical and injectable treatments, oral supplements and the most effective medical devices.

My treatments are award winning, hand-picked, safe and results driven.

To arrange a consultation or for more information please get in touch

eh.medicalcosmetics@outlook.com

07743071961

The results of my treatments speak for themselves………………