Volume Two — Understanding Skin Concerns
Chapter 7

 

Menopausal Skin: How Hormones Change Your Skin During Perimenopause & Menopause

“Perimenopause & Menopause doesn’t suddenly age your skin—it changes the biology that has supported it for decades.”

Many women notice dramatic skin changes during their 40s and 50s.

Products they’ve loved for years suddenly stop working.

Skin becomes:

• Drier
• More sensitive
• Less firm
• More pigmented
• Slower to heal

Often, these changes aren’t because you’ve chosen the wrong skincare.

They’re happening because your hormones are changing.

At The Skin Code, we believe understanding why these changes occur is the first step towards managing them successfully.

Healthy menopausal skin isn’t about reversing ageing.

It’s about supporting your skin through one of life’s biggest biological transitions.

Perimenopause vs Menopause: What’s the Difference?

Many women think skin changes begin once menopause starts, but for most, they actually begin several years earlier during perimenopause.

Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, when hormone levels fluctuate. This stage often begins in the early-to-mid 40s (sometimes earlier) and can last several years.

Menopause is officially reached after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.

Because estrogen begins declining during perimenopause, the skin may start changing long before periods stop.

What Happens During Menopause?

Menopause occurs when estrogen levels decline permanently.

Estrogen plays a significant role in maintaining healthy skin.

It helps regulate:

• Collagen production
• Elastin
• Hydration
• Skin thickness
• Wound healing
• Skin barrier function

As estrogen falls, these processes naturally slow.

Why Does Skin Suddenly Feel Different?

Many women notice changes within just a few years.

Common changes include:

• Dryness
• Tightness
• Increased sensitivity
• Redness
• Thinner skin
• Fine lines becoming more noticeable
• Slower healing
• More pigmentation

This is completely normal.

 

Collagen Declines Faster Than Most People Realise

One of the biggest changes during menopause is collagen loss.

Research suggests women may lose up to 30% of skin collagen during the first five years after menopause, followed by a more gradual decline thereafter.

Collagen provides:
• Strength
• Firmness
• Elasticity
• Structural support

This is why skin often appears thinner and less resilient during menopause.

Why Does Menopausal Skin Become Dry?

Many women assume they’re simply “getting older.”

In reality, several biological changes occur simultaneously.

The skin produces:

• Less natural oil
• Fewer natural moisturising factors
• Less hyaluronic acid
• Reduced ceramides

Together these changes weaken the skin barrier, allowing more water to escape.

The result is skin that feels dry—even after moisturising.

 

Why Does Skin Become More Sensitive?

A weaker barrier allows irritants to penetrate more easily.

Products you’ve tolerated for years may suddenly sting or burn or itch.

Many women also begin experiencing:

• Flushing
• Redness
• Itching
• Increased reactivity

This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve developed sensitive skin. Often your barrier simply requires additional support.

Pigmentation Often Becomes More Noticeable

Hormonal changes can make pigmentation appear more obvious.
Combined with decades of accumulated UV exposure, women often notice:

• Age spots
• Uneven skin tone
• Melasma
• Post-inflammatory pigmentation lasting longer

Daily sun protection becomes even more important during menopause.

What Ingredients Support Menopausal Skin?

Rather than using stronger products, focus on rebuilding skin health.

Helpful ingredients include:

• Vitamin A (Retinoids) - Supports collagen production and skin renewal.
• Peptides - Help support skin resilience and repair.
• Ceramides - Strengthen the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss.
• Hyaluronic Acid - Improves hydration and skin comfort.
• Niacinamide - Supports barrier repair while calming inflammation.
• Vitamin C - Provides antioxidant protection while supporting collagen formation.
• Regenerative Ingredients (Growth Factors, PDRN, Exosomes)

Emerging regenerative ingredients—including growth factors, exosomes, PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) and polynucleotides—are becoming an increasingly important part of modern professional skincare.

These ingredients are designed to support the skin’s natural repair processes, by improving hydration, strengthening the skin barrier, calming inflammation and supporting healthier skin function.

While research continues to evolve, early clinical evidence and practitioner experience are promising.

In our clinic, we've seen particularly encouraging improvements in clients with mature, compromised and post-procedure skin, including healthier skin quality, improved hydration, stronger barrier function, reduced inflammation and faster recovery following professional treatments. 

They work best when combined with a healthy skin barrier, daily sun protection, evidence-based active ingredients and professional treatment planning.

We see regenerative ingredients as powerful additions to a well-designed skincare strategy.

Caring for Your Body Skin During Menopause

Facial skincare often receives most of the attention, but the skin on your body also changes significantly during menopause.

Areas such as the arms, chest, neck, knees and lower legs commonly become:

• Drier

• Crepey in appearance

• Less elastic

• Rougher in texture

Daily body moisturising becomes far more important during this stage of life.

Look for products containing:

• Ceramides

• Glycerin

• Squalane

• Urea (for very dry skin)

• Nourishing plant oils

Applying a body moisturiser or body oil immediately after showering helps lock moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier.

The Skin Code Perspective™

One of the simplest changes we’ve seen make a noticeable difference for many women is becoming consistent with body skincare—not just facial skincare.

Many of our clients tell us that introducing a nourishing body oil &/or barrier-supportive moisturiser after showering leaves their skin feeling softer, more comfortable and noticeably less dry and crepey over time.

While body oils won’t reverse collagen loss, they can significantly improve skin comfort, hydration and the overall appearance of menopausal skin when used consistently.

Lifestyle Matters More Than Ever

Healthy skin during menopause isn’t created by skincare alone.

Lifestyle also influences skin health.

Prioritise:

• Quality sleep

• Strength training

• Adequate protein intake
• Vitamin & mineral support 
• Stress management

• Sun protection

• Consistent skincare

Healthy skin is supported from both the inside and outside.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

When does menopause start affecting the skin?

For many women, skin changes begin during perimenopause, several years before menopause itself. Fluctuating estrogen levels can lead to dryness, sensitivity, pigmentation changes and reduced collagen production long before periods stop completely.

Does menopause always make skin dry?

Many women experience increased dryness, but the severity varies depending on genetics, hormones, environment and skincare habits.

Why has my skin suddenly become sensitive?

Reduced estrogen weakens the skin barrier, making skin more reactive to products that were previously well tolerated.

Should I stop using Vitamin A during menopause?

Not necessarily.
Vitamin A remains one of the most evidence-based ingredients for healthy ageing, but it may need to be introduced gradually alongside barrier-supportive ingredients.

Is collagen powder enough?

Collagen supplements may support skin health for some people, but they work best alongside good nutrition, sun protection and evidence-based topical skincare.

Why has my skin suddenly become crepey?

Crepey skin often becomes more noticeable during perimenopause and menopause as collagen, elastin and the skin’s natural oils decline.

The skin becomes thinner, drier and less resilient, particularly on the neck, chest, arms and legs.

Keeping the skin well moisturised won’t rebuild lost collagen, but it can dramatically improve how the skin looks and feels by reducing dryness and restoring flexibility to the outer skin barrier.

The Skin Code Perspective™

Menopause isn’t something to fight.

It’s a natural stage of life.

Your skincare should evolve with your biology—not work against it.

Rather than chasing younger-looking skin, our goal is to help women maintain healthy, resilient skin that continues to function well for decades to come.

Healthy skin always comes first.

Continue Your Skin Journey

Hormones influence the skin throughout life—but menopause isn’t the only hormonal transition.

In our next chapter, we’ll explore Perioral Dermatitis, why the skin barrier becomes disrupted around the mouth and nose, and why many common skincare products can unintentionally make it worse.

Or, if you’d like personalised advice, Book a Skin Consultation at The Skin Code  and let our experienced skin therapists create a treatment and skincare plan tailored specifically to your skin, lifestyle and goals.