Every menstruating person will end up here sooner or later: The menopause. A curse for some, a blessing for others. Either way, this time means a big change for the whole body. Similar to teenage years or pregnancy, a lot happens here hormonally! And just like in these phases of life, the skin reacts individually to these hormonal changes. In this article, you can find out exactly what happens in the body during the menopause and how skin and hair in particular are affected. I also got some tips on skin care during the menopause from our pharmacist Mara and product developer Moni.
- Menopause - What happens in the body?
- Symptoms of the menopause - how to recognize when you are approaching the menopause
- Our skin during the menopause - How is it affected by the menopause?
- Menopause and dry skin
- Menopause and blemish prone skin
- Menopause and oily skin
- Menopause and hair loss
- Holistic tips for your journey through the menopause
1. menopause - what happens in the body?
Hormones are nothing more than the body's messenger substances. They control pretty much all the processes that happen in us throughout the day and in the course of our lives. The menopause is no exception. On average, it knocks cautiously on the door of menstruating people for the first time at the age of 47.5 and then continues for several years. It describes the change from fertility through the menstrual cycle to the end of this cycle and thus also fertility.
In the course of life, the reserve of eggs is depleted and the number of follicles falls continuously with each ovulation. During the menopause, the ovaries slowly stop producing hormones. As a result, oestrogen and progesterone levels fall. If you're not quite sure what exactly these hormones are, here's a brief digression: oestrogen is the female sex hormone. It therefore has a major influence on the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, but also on metabolism and bone formation. Progesterone is the hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy during the menstrual cycle and ensures that a fertilized egg leads to a successful pregnancy.
But what exactly does a drop in progesterone or oestrogen levels do?
Falling progesterone levels during the menopause:
- Irregularities in the cycle
- Tightness in the chest
- Water retention
Falling oestrogen levels during the menopause:
- Hot flushes
- Sweating
- Sleep disorders
- Depressive moods
- Palpitations
- Dry (mucous) skin
- Bone loss (osteoporosis)
During the menopause, the hormones LH and FSH increase to compensate for and stimulate hormone production in the ovaries. While oestrogen and progesterone decrease, LH and FSH virtually take over and slow down this process.
If you suspect you are going through the menopause based on your symptoms, you can have a blood test to determine whether your suspicions are correct. The increase in FSH levels can be easily detected there and thus provide clarity in the hormone jungle.
The menopause can be divided into 3 phases:
1. premenopause
In the first phase, hormone production slowly decreases and the cycle slows down. This phase is not officially part of the menopause as it is the time when the body prepares for the next phases. The premenopause begins a few years before the menopause. Exactly when is very individual, which is why it is difficult to determine a precise age or period. You can recognize the start of this phase by the fact that your periods become more irregular, as the body slowly begins to reduce its hormones.
2. perimenopause
The second phase is the start of the menopause and begins at the aforementioned average age of 47.5 years. When exactly it starts is, as I said, very individual. For some it starts earlier, for others it takes a little longer. It describes the period of time before menstruation stops.
3. menopause
The menopause occurs at around the age of 51. This is the name given to the period of 12 months without periods after the last menstrual cycle has ended. Colloquially, the menopause is often equated with the menopause. However, the menopause is only one of several phases that accompany us through the menopause.
4. postmenopause
After the actual menopause ends with the menopause, we enter the postmenopause phase. Menstruation stops completely and hormone levels remain at a low level.
2. symptoms of the menopause - how to recognize when you are approaching the menopause
There are many different symptoms, characteristics and manifestations that can indicate the onset of the menopause. They don't all have to happen at the same time; just like the timing, this is also very individual. However, if you know your body well, you will certainly notice even minor changes.
Here are some complaints and symptoms that can occur in connection with the menopause:
- Cycle complaints
- Palpitations
- Vaginal dryness
- Joint pain
- Bleeding
- Weight gain
- Sleep disorders
- Bladder weakness
- Hair and skin problems
- Depression
- Hot flushes
- Mood swings
- Loss of libido
- Osteoporosis
This may all sound rather overwhelming at first. The points listed are of course anything but reasons to look forward to. But as I said at the beginning, not all symptoms have to occur at the same time or at all. How your journey through the menopause feels is entirely individual. And ultimately, there are tips and tricks for every complaint that can provide relief and make it easier to deal with these symptoms.
We at JUNGLÜCK would like to take a closer look at the problem of skin changes and hair growth or loss.
3. our skin during the menopause - how is it affected by the menopause?
We often receive messages in which menstruating people describe changes in their skin, body and head hair during the menopause and ask us for help and product recommendations. I would first like to shed some light on the underlying causes of these changes.
Hair changes such as hair loss or an increase in body hair on the chin, upper lip or chest are completely normal phenomena. Even before the menopause, by the way. Due to the change in hormones, Treat the male hormones become stronger when oestrogen decreases and promote hair growth or loss on the scalp.
The skin can deal with the hormonal change in various ways. Dryness, an oily sheen or even blemishes can manifest themselves here. Here too, oestrogen plays an essential role. Due to the lack of the hormone, the valuable collagen that holds the skin's structure together is reduced. This leads to a loss of skin thickness and elasticity. It also makes it more difficult to retain moisture in the connective tissue, which leads to dryness and sensitive skin. Skin cells renew more slowly, which affects the general rate of regeneration and the skin's ability to heal wounds. The overproduction of male hormones in relation to female hormones can also lead to oily skin, blackheads and blemishes.
These are all perfectly normal developments and nothing to be ashamed of. With the right combination of skincare products, the skin can be well supported through the menopause and beyond. The aim here is to promote the skin's functions, such as collagen production and the ability to retain moisture. This helps to maintain healthy skin and protect us from bacteria and viruses as we age Protect.
In the following sections, you will find a compact overview of skin care tips for the various changes to the skin that can occur as a result of the menopause.
4. menopause and dry skin
Trigger: breakdown of hyaluron, collagen and elastin due to estrogen loss
