A TIME TO MEND & PAUSE

Hey guys. In case you haven’t heard about it, today is world menopause day, a day of raising awareness of the menopause and difficulties women across the world deal with. It’s quite a difficult topic and some people may feel uncomfortable talking about going through the menopause, with anxiety being a common symptom of those going through it. And while I haven’t gone through menopause, we’re all right here to make you aware.

For those of you who may be younger or a bit unfamiliar with what menopause is, allow me to explain it. Menopause is the point when your menstrual cycles end, where at this stage, your oestrogen levels and your ovaries stop releasing eggs, meaning it marks the end of your ability to reproduce.

Menopause usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, and as we reach this age, our skin begins to change alongside this process. When we reach the stage of menopause, the levels of collagen began to fall, the protein that gives structure to the skin. And due to the falling oestrogen levels, the amount of collagen that’s removed speeds up much faster, even by as much as 30% reduction in collagen in the first five years after menopause.

Dryness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, the decreased oestrogen levels can leave our skin feeling dry and thin, with it being most common on your hands and scalp. And on a more personal topic, as a result of the dry and thin skin, a lot of women may experience vaginal dryness and pain during sex.

Even though we typically associate the development of acne to teenagers, acne can also be a side effect of menopause due to the lowered hormonal levels. While it may be more difficult than younger women to manage acne, it doesn’t mean it’s out of the question, as with proper application, and the right ingredients, it can be treated.

Finally, wrinkles and the sagging of skin are a normal part of the aging process, and regardless of how well your skin is, sagging is just natural and it’s nothing to be worried about, but something that you may want to be aware of is that due to the levels of collagen falling, wrinkle development will move at a much faster pace than normal.

Because dry skin is such a common symptom of menopause, it’s always recommended to keep yourself as hydrated as possible by drinking as much water and other liquids as possible. It may sound silly and a bit obvious but it is an extremely beneficial and simple tool for rejuvenating your skin. You’ll also want to switch to more moisturising products, rich with antioxidants in order to help nourish the skin.

Before I leave you all again for a few days, I need to let you lovelies all know that menopause is nothing to be afraid of, being able to live your life to its fullest and transitioning in a new era of your life is something to be proud of.

Whilst there is no question that menopause is a difficult time for most there is light at the end of the tunnel, renewed energy is just round the corner and a confidence boost and a sense of self is on its way, so hang in their ladies you got this!

And with that guys, I’ll be heading off again and I’ll see you all Friday.

Love

Alex xoxo

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3772914/