What is happening to your skin and hair during the change?

The menopause, considered by many as a taboo, is an often neglected topic of conversation, even amongst woman that are experiencing the symptoms. Perhaps it’s because we may already be aware of the more common symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and tiredness, but the menopause and perimenopause can also alter our skin and hair.

These changes to your appearance can sometimes be overshadowed by the more 'serious' symptoms, however they can have equally undesirable implications such as a lack of confidence, low self-esteem and can even impact relationships, daily routines and mental health.

The important thing to remember is, that despite feeling alone, many women are experiencing the same symptoms and there are readily available skin and haircare solutions to help overcome these challenges.

Hormonal impact on skin and hair

Changes to skin and hair during and indeed, after the menopause, are a result of hormones playing havoc in our bodies. Declining oestrogen levels during this period of a woman's life can cause a variety of menopausal symptoms including changes to the body's largest organ - skin. Oestrogen is the hormone that stimulates the production of collagen, the supportive structure which gives skin its strength, density and elasticity. As a result of these fluctuating hormone levels three key changes can affect the skin - loss of radiance, thinner skin making it more prone to wrinkles, and a loss of moisture, leading to dryness.

Hair is also susceptible to change during this pivotal period. As oestrogen levels diminish, testosterone which may have been lying dormant in the female's body until this point in life, has a bigger effect on the hair cycle. This can cause thinning and make each hair finer. Oestrogen also helps to regulate the hair growth cycle so when it declines, hair is shed earlier than normal. Finally, natural oils are also reduced so hair can become dry and lacklustre.

What this means for your skin and hair

Whilst hormonal imbalances and declining oestrogen levels can have multiple implications for your skin, the good news is, you are not alone. In a recent survey*, the top main skin concerns cited were increased dryness (40%), loss of elasticity (37%), more fine lines and wrinkles appearing (33%) and darker age spots or pigmentation patches (32%). In addition to these more common symptoms, there are many more skin challenges that women may face that are far less talked about such as acne flare-ups, itchy skin and increased sensitivity. In fact 8% of women even felt the need to visit their GP for skin problems caused by the menopause or perimenopause.

Similarly, your hair is also susceptible to changes during and after the menopause. Over a quarter of women noticed changes to their crowning glory with 29% experiencing thinning, 26% noting a loss of volume and 22% stating a lack of shine.

Nurture replenish

With all these noticeable changes, it's no wonder that menopausal women can experience depression, bouts of low self-esteem and a declining lack of confidence in their appearance. There's no doubt that this can be a challenging time for many women but it doesn't have to be all negative. The nurture replenish range is designed specifically for women experiencing skin and hair changes during the menopause to help you rebalance and feel like yourself once more.

As our skin ages, we may become aware that we can't be as care-free with our beauty regimes as we once were; in reality, mature skin needs a dedicated regime. Our recent survey revealed that 83% of women aged 45 or over would consider changing their skincare if they noticed changes during or after the menopause yet the results also revealed that the reason many had not changed their skincare was because they did not know what alternatives to choose.

Changing your skincare routine as you age can sometimes be a less than straightforward experience. Nurture replenish is unlike other ranges for mature skin and hair as it combines nutritional supplements along with complementary traditional beauty products, all containing phytoestrogens (natural plant oestrogens) to help replenish depleted levels of oestrogen lost at this time.

The range comprises of skin and hair care products to help you combat many of the changes you may be experiences. Together, these steps help feed your skin from the inside and the outside and help you maintain optimum skin and hair health during this unpredictable time of your life.

*1034 women aged 45+ (with at least 629 that have been or are going through menopause).