After your adolescent years you reveled at the notion that blemishes were long gone with the teenage angst, high school cliques, and unflattering hair styles. So as you’re going through menopause – a time you believe is surely blemish-free - you may be shocked to see the resemblance of one (or three!) on your face. But adult acne is actually quite common, especially during the hormone imbalanced times of menopause, which can also involve other skin conditions. Learn all about your skin and what you can do to treat those problematic spots.
How “the change” changes your skin
During menopause essentially the hormones tend to run amuck. Estrogen levels decrease as testosterone increases. The result? Because of the reduction in estrogen, skin becomes thinner and women experience a loss of elasticity, says Debra Jaliman, MD, FAAD, assistant clinical professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine who spoke last year at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting. When it comes to acne, it’s the increase in testosterone and DHEA that causes the sebaceous glands - in charge of your skin’s oil production – to start working overtime.
Meanwhile, menopause also causes a kink in your skin cell regeneration, where normally old skin cells die off and new ones are born. During menopause the skin is really efficient with the demise phase, but the body is unable to rid itself of the skin’s waste fast enough. With a combination of excess oil and dead skin, pores become clogged and acne develops.
Could it be something else?
As you’ve finally come to terms with the fact that your skin is suffering from a case of acne, it actually might be something else. According to Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School - who answered readers’ questions in an article for MSNBC - women who break out in red bumps or pimples mistake those signs for acne, when in reality, it’s a different chronic skin condition. That troublesome acne may really be troublesome rosacea. Some common signs of rosacea include blushing and redness, with the appearance of bumps and pimples (the ones that mimic acne) and blood vessels. Visit a dermatologist if you think you’ve developed rosacea.
Interestingly, hot flashes can exacerbate rosacea. In some cases, hot flashes have even caused the first appearance of rosacea and can trigger subsequent flare-ups.
In an article on MSNBC, Dr. Debra Wattenberg says, “Women with rosacea often note their skin worsens with spicy foods, alcohol, hot drinks, extreme weather and sun exposure.” Dr. Robb-Nicholson adds the following tips for coping with rosacea:
- Only exercise in cool temperatures, never in the heat. Similarly, on humid days, an air-conditioned area is your best bet.
- Drink your coffee and tea at room temperature.
- Stay away from skin care products with alcohol, perfumes, and anything else that may act as a potential irritant.
- Always wear sunscreen! – As you should, regardless of having the condition.
- Avoid hot bathes, stress, and extreme exercise.
Banishing problematic skin
We all know washing your face is important, so continue cleansing with a gentle product twice each day - in the morning and night – and also after a strenuous workout. Dr. Wattenberg also suggests using over-the-counter products with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or glycolic acid for mild cases of acne. For products with salicylic acid, try Bliss See Spots Run Acne Treatment or Murad Acne Spot treatment. Other acne products to try include MD Formulations Benzoyl Peroxide 10 and Philosophy On A Clear Day h2o2. Adds Dr. Wattenberg, for reducing lesions and acne marks, you can look to any of these procedures: chemical peels, microdermabrasion and lasers.
Several sources recommend changing your diet to include more fiber, calcium and plenty of water (eight to ten glasses per day) while cutting down on processed carbs and fat. If you’re not getting enough vitamins, a supplement may also help. Some suggest vitamins B and C, especially for menopausal acne. For years, diet has been a controversial topic among the medical community, with some staunch supports of diet’s pivotal role for your skin’s appearance and other equally fervent believers who proclaim that’s a bunch of baloney. So you can take your chocolate or leave it.
When looking for beauty products, choose those that are “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic.” Also, no matter how tempting it is (and it’s very tempting!), don’t squeeze your blemishes, because scarring can occur. If you’re already using acne products, be careful when you’re out in the sun. Some ingredients can make you especially sensitive to sun exposure and thus to sunburn. Wear sunscreen always!
In addition, Dr. Jaliman recommends, “a skin care regimen including a prescription retinoid, either tretinoin or tazarotene, or over-the-counter products such as retinol, alpha-hydroxy acids, antioxidants or peptides.” For instance, according to the Academy of Dermatology’s Web site, retinoids are effective for treating bumps and blackheads (and it reduces wrinkles too!). This is one product where you must slather on the sunscreen because of the added risk of sunburn.
Also, when women experience symptoms of anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, etc., in addition to acne, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – taking supplements of estrogen and progesterone - is a viable option (though health risks have been associated with HRT).
In general, there’s an array of effective treatments for acne and troublesome skin. Talk with your dermatologist about the best options for you.