wellness
on all cylinders too, enjoying peak creativity,
railing through the to-do lists and generally
enjoying life.
Yet, as with all divas, things can get out of
hand, so along comes progesterone to calm
things down and keep your party-girl side in
check, as this hormone also helps you to rest.
“Progesterone can increase sebum
production and sebum-filled pores are the
ideal place for bacteria to live – particularly
P. acnes, which loves to colonise these pores
and cause inflammatory acne,” explains
Laura Rudoe of Evolve Skincare. Using
light moisturising products that are non-
comedogenic (clogging) can help to stop skin
from being overloaded during this phase.
Also, using topical exfoliators such as AHA
(glycolic acid) or BHA (salicylic acid) toners
2 -3 times a week can help remove any dead
skin cells clogging pores.
“Menopause can also be a typical time
for skin to go on a rampage because of the
significant alterations in hormone levels.It’s estimated that 50 percent of women ages
20 to 29 have hormonal acne but around 25
percent of women ages 40 to 49 are still
affected by hormonal skin,” continues Rudoe.
“During perimenopause, the ovaries begin
to produce less and less oestrogen, so by the
time menopause hits, both oestrogen and
testosterone levels are low and skin suffers
from dryness, loss of elasticity and starts
ageing more rapidly. Switching your skincare
up to include a creamier cleanser, richer
moisturiser, anti-ageing serum and sun
protection can help to guard against this.”
If you have a hormonal condition like
endometriosis, where the uterus lining grows
in places it shouldn’t, or polycystic ovary
syndrome (PCOS), hormonal skin flare-ups
can be extreme and painful. “Bizarrely, it’s
still unclear as to why endometriosis occurs
but we do know that abnormal hormone
levels can cause tissue to build up,” says
nutritional therapist Marjolein Dutry van
Haeften, (hormoniously.com), whose London
clinic is dedicated to supporting female
health. “Women with PCOS often have acne
and an inbuilt resistance to oestrogen means
they don’t benefit from the super glowy skin
stage either. She believes both conditions are
linked to gut health and keeping a food diary
is the first step to finding a solution.
Hormones are powerful and complex, so
the key is not to fight the tide. Know what to
expect, understand why it’s happening and
treat it accordingly. Everyone’s hormones are
doing this to differing extents so rather than
resenting their influence, trust your body and
its ancient chemistry. We can sometimes feel
our body is betraying us but accepting our
body’s wisdom can help us to appreciate it,
work together with our hormones and feel
far better as a result.Sarah Brown
After her skin became
unusually irritated, Sarah
discovered even 'organic'
and 'hypoallergenic' products
contained synthetics and
irritants. So, she set up Pai
Skincare (paiskincare.com)
to fill the gap.“Hormones are
complex, so the key is
not to fight the tide”
As hormone levels change
during menopause, skin
can become dry and lose
elasticity – time to choose
a richer moisturiser.