It might sound ridiculous to worry about dry skin when you’re dealing with temperature surges and stressful mood swings – but skin changes can be a source of serious frustration during menopause. To combat dry skin, start by learning the factors responsible for this change – from hormones to lifestyle choices. Then, try out a few products crucial to a dry skin regimen.

Parched skin perpetrators

Every woman’s menopausal symptoms will differ, as will their severity. According to the Women to Women Clinic, over 30 percent of women will experience dry skin, either just before or during menopause. Here are some of the causes that prompt your skin to turn from supple to scaly in a matter of months.

• Lower estrogen levels: As you and your estrogen begin to part ways, your skin will take a bit of a beating. Estrogen levels are thought to affect the amount of skin-quenching oil your glands produce, so as estrogen production decreases, so does the amount of moisture in your skin.

• Less collagen: When estrogen starts to bid you farewell, you’ll lose more than just moisture – you’ll also say goodbye to a good deal of collagen that’s been keeping your skin soft and firm until now. Without the normal combination of oil and collagen, skin is more susceptible to dryness and aging.

• Too much sun exposure: Sun-kissed shoulders and a bronzed face might have looked great when you were in college, but now that the top layer of your skin is starting to look a bit crinkly, you’re probably rethinking all of that time spent lying on the beach. Nothing saps the quality of your epidermis quite like UV rays, and dry skin is one more reason to protect your skin.

• Poor lifestyle habits: Vices like smoking and frequent happy hour drinks can return to haunt your skin years later. Not only do these habits take a toll on the color and appearance of your skin in general, they also deplete its natural moisture barrier.

Replacing your armor

All is not lost just because a few of your hormones are getting away from you. You have plenty of options when it comes to replenishing your skin with moisture and nursing it back to health. While creating a new regimen might sound overwhelming, these are habits that might just save your skin – literally.

• Moisturize as you cleanse: You know that itchy, irritated feeling your fingertips get while drying off after a shower? That’s probably a sign that your cleansers are too harsh. You can take the edge off of dryness by using menopause-friendly cleansers, from head to toe. For the face, try a rich, creamy cleanser that won’t over-dry, like Elemis Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser, and for the body, switch out your soap for an oil-based wash. Check out Pevonia Nymphea Essential Oil Bath & Shower Gel and see if you don’t find those flakes running for cover.

• Scrub off the scales: Tired of those dry flakes? Then your next step involves exfoliation, which will remove dead skin cells that contribute to a dull complexion, as well as prepare your skin to better absorb moisturizers and treatment products. Save those exfoliating scrubs for rough areas like elbows, knees and heels, and instead try a chemical exfoliation product that’s easier on dry skin – there’s nothing like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), including glycolic acid and lactic acid, to rid your skin of unwanted crocodile scales. Just keep in mind that AHAs increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so be sure to use SPF daily. And, although AHAs are generally great for most skin types, start with lower concentrations if you have sensitive skin. For a product that’s gentle enough for your face, try Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel for sensitive skin. Then, lather up with Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash to get the rest of your body glowing.

• Soak up extra moisture: The supersized, all-purpose lotion sitting on your bathroom counter may not cut it when it comes to moisturizing dry skin during menopause. Cathy Cram, M.S., recommends to DailySpark that using products that contain urea, glycerin or lactic acid will help achieve true moisture, as they actually sink into your skin, unlike ingredients like cocoa butter and lanolin. The latter ingredients have their place, but serve better as a barrier to prevent skin from losing moisture, not to moisturize it directly. For the face, try B. Kamins Lactic-10, which addresses multiple aging concerns without causing irritation. Then, use U-Lactin Dry Skin Lotion - 16 oz. on the entire body. Be sure to apply it right after a shower so your skin is in the mood to accept it.

• Prevent dehydration: Now it’s time to whip out the moisture barrier. Those protective lotions laden with the aforementioned heavy ingredients have their place after all – on top of your already-moisturized skin. The idea is to lock in moisture by preventing the hydrating ingredients beneath the barrier from evaporating. You might try a product like Osmotics Cream Extreme Barrier Repair for the face and La Roche Posay Lipikar Lipid Replenishing Body Milk for the body.

With a new phase of your life comes a new skin regimen. But note that these fixes are merely skin-deep. The real changes come with lifestyle alterations like staying properly hydrated, eating a balanced diet and curbing behaviors like drinking and smoking – otherwise the new products you buy won’t perform to their full potential. Above all, don’t forget your sunscreen! Those days of bathing in the sun for hours are gone, and it’s time to protect your skin from harmful UV rays to prevent additional signs of aging. After you’ve made these changes, you’ll begin to experience a healthy, radiant complexion.

See also:

Top Beauty Treatments for Menopausal Skin

Menopause and Your Changing Skin: Top 10 Questions

6 Skincare Home Remedies for Menopause Symptoms

Menopause and Dark Circles: Refresh and Awaken Your Skin