Skin is a miraculous thing. The body’s largest organ, it is such an integral part of how we experience the world, gifting us with the sense of touch, while also acting as a protective barrier, regulating our body temperature, and playing a role in the immune system. It is both soft and tough – rather like women ourselves!
Our skin also plays a huge role in our appearance and, therefore, our sense of self. So, the changes that come with age can be a challenge, especially when they are accelerated by the hormonal shifts that characterise menopause.
Hormones can have a major impact on our skin – as anyone who has experienced stress-based acne outbreaks or pre-menstrual oiliness knows.
Oestrogen, for example, plays a role in collagen and elastin production, affecting the elasticity, thickness, and firmness of our skin. Progesterone affects sebum production, which determines how oily our skin is, as does testosterone.
As our levels of these hormones change in peri- and post-menopause, so too does our skin. Indeed, when we surveyed 111 women at various points in their menopause journey, 42% told us that they had already seen changes to their skin, hair, and nails.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the common skin changes that women experience as they go through menopause. Then, we’ll consider some of the ways you can take care of your skin during this transition, and beyond.
How does menopause affect your skin?
Declining oestrogen has a huge effect on our bodies and minds – and the skin is no different. Oestrogen levels affect our skin in various ways, impacting:
- Skin thickness, strength, and structure, through involvement in collagen production
- Skin elasticity, through involvement in elastin production
- Skin hydration, through involvement in hyaluronic acid synthesis
- Wound healing
- Protection against oxidative damage and photo-ageing (skin damage caused by sun exposure)
As a result, women going through menopause often notice a sharp increase in signs of skin ageing. The first change is often increased skin dryness, followed by itchiness, redness, greater sensitivity, and sagging and wrinkles. If your skin has been exposed to sun damage, you are likely to see increased signs of this too, such as dark spots and wrinkles.
Because oestrogen is involved in skin thickness and wound healing, post-menopausal women also tend to see their skin becoming thinner and more prone to bruising and tearing. Wounds start to heal more slowly too as we age.
However, oestrogen is not the only hormone that changes as we age. Progesterone also decreases sharply during menopause, which can contribute to skin dryness, as it affects sebum production.
That said, we are all individuals, and menopause likes to keep us on our toes. So, for some women, the changing balance between oestrogen and testosterone in the early stages of perimenopause may in fact lead to oilier skin at first, potentially resulting in blocked pores and acne.
Typically, this effect will be short lived, as testosterone also decreases with age. So, most of us will eventually experience drier skin because of menopause, even if we go through a period of oiliness first.
Changes to hormone balance can also mean we’re more vulnerable to other skin issues in peri- and post-menopause. For example, rosacea is more common and more severe in women aged 40-60. Changes to skin pigment (melasma) are also common, and you may experience flare ups of pre-existing skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.
Taking care of your skin during menopause
Changes to our skin are inevitable as we age, and we shouldn’t expect to look twenty when we’re fifty, despite what the media might tell us. But there is plenty we can do to take care of our skin health and look the best we can for the age we are, as well as addressing problems like itchiness, dryness, and redness.
For some women, HRT may help to protect against the skin changes associated with menopause, as well as alleviate other symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings.
However, we can also support our skin’s health through our lifestyles. Staying well-hydrated and eating a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients helps to keep our skin nourished from the inside out.
Of course, skincare is also a vital part of protecting our skin and addressing the changes that come with menopause.
The core components of a good skincare routine don’t change because of menopause, but the products we choose might. For example, a good broad-spectrum SPF is a cornerstone of any skincare routine – hopefully you are already applying one daily! However, as oestrogen declines, our skin becomes more vulnerable to sun damage, so where factor 30 might have been sufficient before, you may now want to up your SPF to factor 50, at least on your face.
You might also want to revisit the cleanser you use. Increased dryness and sensitivity after menopause mean that some cleansers might now be too harsh for your skin. So, look for mild cleansers that include hydrating and/or moisturising ingredients, such as the WOWVITA Divine Cleansing Ritual oil cleanser.
Moisturisation is obviously key with the increased dryness that comes with menopause. And you also want to look out for ingredients that support collagen production, increase skin elasticity, and strengthen the skin barrier.
For many of us, this will mean choosing natural, botanical ingredients that are rich in nutrients that our skin needs.
Rosehip oil is one of our favourites – it is high in skin-friendly vitamins, especially vitamin C, which helps to boost collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and protect against the signs of sun damage.
We also love prickly pear oil for peri- and post-menopausal skin. It is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin E, which reduces inflammation, supports skin healing, boosts hydration, and reduces wrinkles.
Rose geranium oil is another hero ingredient. Again, this nourishing oil helps to fight inflammation, reduce wrinkles, improve blood circulation in the skin, balance sebum production, and support the regeneration of skin cells.
Botanical oils like these form the basis of our Divine Goddess skincare range, along with other natural, nourishing ingredients such as damask rose, frankincense, and safflower.
Above all, your daily skincare routine is an invitation for self-care. First thing in the morning and last thing before bed, it is a moment to slow down and take time to nourish your skin with gentle, natural ingredients and your own loving touch. Because no matter where you are on your menopause journey, you (and your skin) are worthy of care and appreciation.
References
Rzepecki, A. K., Murase, J. E., Juran, R., Fabi, S. G., & McLellan, B. N. (2019). Estrogen-deficient skin: The role of topical therapy. International journal of women’s dermatology, 5(2), 85–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.01.001
Bakry, O. A., El Shazly, R. M., El Farargy, S. M., & Kotb, D. (2014). Role of hormones and blood lipids in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris in non-obese, non-hirsute females. Indian dermatology online journal, 5(Suppl 1), S9–S16. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5178.144506
Survey data of 111 women collected by WOW Worthy Women CIC during March-April 2024
Stevenson, S., & Thornton, J. (2007). Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. Clinical interventions in aging, 2(3), 283–297. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s798
Lephart, E. D., & Naftolin, F. (2022). Factors Influencing Skin Aging and the Important Role of Estrogens and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 15, 1695–1709. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S333663
Yang, F., Wang, L., & Jiang, X. (2024). Clinical characteristics of rosacea in perimenopausal women. Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI), 30(1), e13542. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13542
Kamp, E., Ashraf, M., Musbahi, E., & DeGiovanni, C. (2022). Menopause, skin and common dermatoses. Part 2: skin disorders. Clinical and experimental dermatology, 47(12), 2117–2122. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.15308
Looking after your skin in the menopause, Homeone Health, https://hormonehealth.co.uk/looking-after-your-skin-in-the-menopause, consulted 29/06/2025
Caring for your skin in menopause, American Academy of Dermatology Association, https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/skin-care-during-menopause, consulted 29/06/2025
Oargă Porumb, D. P., Cornea-Cipcigan, M., & Cordea, M. I. (2024). Unveiling the mechanisms for the development of rosehip-based dermatological products: an updated review. Frontiers in pharmacology, 15, 1390419. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1390419
Iftikhar, K., Siddique, F., Ameer, K., Arshad, M., Kharal, S., Mohamed Ahmed, I. A., Yasmin, Z., & Aziz, N. (2023). Phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of hydroethanolic extracts of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) fruit and pulp. Food science & nutrition, 11(4), 1916–1930. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3226
Dinu, M., Tatu, A. L., Cocoș, D. I., Nwabudike, L. C., Chirilov, A. M., Stefan, C. S., Earar, K., & Dumitriu Buzia, O. (2024). Natural Sources of Therapeutic Agents Used in Skin Conditions. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 14(4), 492. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14040492
