Menopause & Your Skin: Why It’s Changing—and How to Get Your Glow Back
Let’s talk skin. More specifically—your skin during menopause. If you’ve looked in the mirror lately and thought, “Wait, when did this happen?”—you’re not alone. That sudden dryness, sagging, or fine lines that seem to show up overnight? It’s real, it’s hormonal, and it’s entirely manageable once you understand what’s going on underneath the surface.
As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, so does your skin’s support system. Estrogen plays a major role in collagen production, hydration, and maintaining skin elasticity.
What’s Actually Happening to Your Skin?
As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, so does your skin’s support system. Estrogen plays a major role in collagen production, hydration, and maintaining skin elasticity. When it drops, the skin starts to lose structure and moisture—and it happens fast.
In fact, research shows that women can lose up to 30% of their skin’s collagen in the first five years of menopause. That’s not a typo. It’s like the scaffolding holding everything up starts to soften, and the result is thinner, more fragile, less radiant skin.
But let me be clear: this isn’t just about vanity. Your skin is your body’s largest organ. When it’s dry, inflamed, or not healing well, it affects comfort, confidence, and health.
Why Your Usual Routine Might Not Work Anymore
You might be reaching for the same moisturizers and serums that worked in your 30s—but post-menopausal skin plays by new rules. What used to hydrate may no longer penetrate. What once kept you glowing might now sit on the surface doing… well, not much.
This is the time to upgrade—not overcomplicate—your skincare approach.
So, What Helps?
1. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Skin Deep Benefits
While HRT isn’t prescribed just to make your skin look better, it does help. Women using HRT often notice improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and wound healing. Some studies even suggest that HRT can slow or stop collagen loss—keeping your skin structure closer to what it was pre-menopause.
Transdermal (patches, gels), oral, or topical estrogen all show benefit. But—and this is a big one—HRT isn’t for everyone. It requires a careful conversation with your healthcare provider about your personal risks, benefits, and goals.
2. Medical Alternatives to HRT
If HRT isn’t an option for you, there are still great choices:
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): These target estrogen receptors in specific tissues, including skin. While often used for bone health or breast cancer prevention, some SERMs may support skin repair and hydration indirectly.
Phytoestrogens: These are plant-based compounds found in soy, flax, and red clover that mimic estrogen in a gentle way. They’re available in topical and oral forms and may modestly improve skin tone and dryness.
Methyl Estradiol Propanoate (MEP): This non-hormonal compound activates estrogen receptors in the skin without systemic hormone exposure. It’s been shown to improve elasticity, brightness, and hydration—without affecting other tissues.
3. Smart Skincare Ingredients That Work
Even if you don’t use hormones, your skin can benefit enormously from the right active ingredients:
Vitamin A (Retinol): Encourages skin cell turnover, improves texture, and boosts collagen.
Vitamin C: Brightens, protects against oxidative stress, and supports collagen synthesis.
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide): Calms redness, improves hydration, and strengthens the skin barrier.
Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates deeply and plumps the skin instantly.
Peptides: Help rebuild the skin matrix from the inside out.
Look for medical-grade products or consult with a professional who understands menopausal skin—because quality matters more than quantity.
Lifestyle Habits That Make a Visible Difference
Hydrate from the inside: Water, electrolytes, and omega-3s are essential.
Sleep smart: Your skin repairs itself while you rest—make that time count.
Strength train: Not only does it help bone density, it improves circulation and nutrient delivery to the skin.
Manage stress: Cortisol (the stress hormone) breaks down collagen. Deep breathing, walks, meditation—they all count.
Final Thoughts: Your Skin Deserves Grace, Not Guilt
Your skin is changing—but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your glow. You’re not doing anything wrong. This is a natural shift, and it’s completely possible to look and feel great through every stage of midlife.
Whether you choose HRT, alternative therapies, or a revamped skincare routine, the most powerful thing you can do is be proactive. Because healthy skin isn’t about chasing youth—it’s about honoring the body you’re in and giving it what it needs to thrive.
You deserve to feel confident in your skin—literally.
Defy Menopause - Own the Change
Many women tell me: "One day I feel amazing. The next, I can barely get out of bed. Is this normal?"
Yes, it is. And no, you don’t have to suffer through it alone.
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can make you feel like you’ve lost control of your body. But knowledge is powerful. And there are clear, science-backed ways to support your hormones, ease symptoms, and reclaim your energy.
That’s exactly why I created Defy Menopause: Own the Change — a 30-day program designed to give you the tools, knowledge, and support you need to move through these changes with clarity and confidence.
Inside, you’ll find:
Weekly access to Dr. Tracy Verrico at live, group sessions
Clear action steps for managing symptoms naturally
Because you deserve more than just "putting up with it."
You deserve to thrive.
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