Menopause causes dry, itchy skin: Hormones and other causes

Women entering menopause are very susceptible to conditions such as hot flashes, night sweats, especially dry and itchy skin. Knowing what causes dry skin during menopause will help you develop an appropriate care regimen.

Most women begin to enter menopause between the ages of 40 and 58. This is the time when a woman's ovaries stop releasing eggs, the menstrual period ends, and the production of the hormone estrogen stops. tends to decline. Estrogen is a hormone that plays an extremely important role in the female body. It marks and stimulates the maturation of the girl's body during puberty, and at the same time keeps bones and joints strong. In addition, estrogen is also a factor that promotes the formation of collagen and oils in the skin. As menopause approaches, levels of the hormone estrogen also drop dramatically, leaving many women with dry, itchy skin.
The reduction in estrogen production and hormonal imbalance in the body not only slows down oil production in the skin, but also reduces the body's ability to retain moisture.
The first areas where dry skin appears is usually the T-zone or elbows. However, dry or flaky skin can appear on the whole body, anywhere on the body, from the face, back, chest to elbows, legs, genitals and even fingernails. .
These skin changes can start as early as perimenopause and have the potential to be permanent. However, understanding the underlying cause of menopausal dry skin will help you find the right remedy and significantly improve the uncomfortable symptoms.

To make dry skin become smoother and fresher, women in menopause can apply some simple tips as follows:
Add healthy fats Essential fatty acids, such as: such as omega-3, found mainly in salmon, seaweed oil, and walnuts, help improve the natural protective barrier and retain moisture in the skin. Therefore, menopausal women should add more of these foods to their daily diet to prevent and improve dry skin.
Apply sunscreen regularly To keep your skin healthy, you should maintain the habit of applying sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher every day.
Dry skin, wrinkles, moles, freckles and skin cancer can all result from overexposure to the sun. Therefore, you should choose sunscreens that are able to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Even on overcast and sunny days, you still need to wear sunscreen, as skin-damaging UV rays can penetrate clouds, fog, and even snow.
Do not take a hot shower with a shower A hot shower with a shower can give you a feeling of comfort and relaxation, but hot water can be one factor that makes your skin dry.
In addition, you should only shower for a certain period of time, clean the skin areas that are really needed with shower gel or soap, such as feet, groin and armpits. Your back, legs, and arms are usually not too dirty, so you can simply clean these parts gently with warm water.
Use mild soaps or body washes Fragrant, antibacterial, or deodorant soaps can irritate and strip the skin of its natural oils. This causes the skin to become even more itchy and dry. Therefore, you should choose mild skin cleansers, without fragrances or mild fragrances.
Fully moisturize your skin Within a few minutes of taking a warm bath, you should apply a moisturizer to your skin. You can choose a moisturizer with mineral oil, lactic acid, or hyaluronic acid, or with antioxidants like vitamin C and green tea. At the same time, to help the moisturizers penetrate best into the skin, you should exfoliate regularly during the week with products containing beta-hydroxy or alpha acids.
Avoid alcohol or nicotine These are both substances that can cause dry skin and premature aging. Ideally, you should provide adequate water for the body through filtered water, mineral water or juice.
Exercise Menopausal women should maintain a daily exercise routine to improve heart health, bones and joints as well as keep skin healthier. Because exercise is also a way to help the body increase collagen production, keeping our skin young and fresh.
In fact, the hormonal changes of menopause are not the only cause of dry skin. Other conditions like hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, and fungal infections can also cause skin problems. Therefore, if you have followed a careful skin care regimen but are still experiencing dry skin problems, it is best to see a dermatologist.

Reference source: Webmd.com