Remember the unbearable angst of adolescent acne? The undiluted heartbreak of teenage spots? Well, the teenagers can just pipe down because try having spots and wrinkles simultaneously. An overwhelming 85% of UK women who’ve previously had an unblemished skin record, report their skin becoming dry, dehydrated, sensitive and prone to breakouts during the menopause years. There seems to be a mistake, we ordered youthful skin, not teenage skin. When you’re comfortably in middle age, regressing to teenage skin woes seems wholly unreasonable and yet the reason is depleting levels of estrogen.

The Role of Estrogen in Maintaining Healthy Skin

Skin adores estrogen. Estrogen suppresses sebum production, reduces bacteria and boosts hydration as well as being a crucial contributor in the body’s manufacture of collagen. It’s what makes skin glowy and smooth and juicy and all the things it probably isn’t right now. During the menopausal years, when the endocrine system gradually but significantly ceases to produce estrogen, sebum is allowed to run amok, bacteria pushes all boundaries and collagen levels take an unprecedented nose dive.

In the 1990s, medical research studies discovered that estrogen receptors are present in skin cells. These estrogen receptors bind to the hormone estrogen and regulate the activity of genes, and when they operate at full pelt, they make skin soft, bouncy and brimming with life. The steady loss of collagen during menopause leads to accelerated skin aging, wrinkle and line formation, skin thinning and sagging. In fact,

The American Academy of Dermatology reports that 30% of collagen is lost in the first 5 years of menopause and 2% per year, every year thereafter. Turns out, estrogen was what was keeping skin in check all those years.

Combatting Collagen Loss: How to Preserve Skin Vitality During Menopause

But it’s not just the slowing of fresh collagen production that hits different during menopause, it’s also the evil workings of collagenases. Collagenases is the enzymatic breakdown of the skin’s natural collagen and is, unfortunately, an inevitable part of the aging process that’s significantly accelerated during menopause. But before we all start popping collagen pills or tapping our local farm shop for black market bovine collagen, a word to the wise, it’s not worth it. Generic collagen creams are seldom compatible with human skin, and dermatologists recommend getting your body to make more of its own collagen.

“A far more effective way of getting collagen to the extracellular matrix is to re-ignite skin’s own production,” advises Craniofacial, Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon, Dr Graeme E. Glass MD PhD.

Effective Ingredients for Menopausal Skin: What to Look For

“We chose a highly bioavailable, patented version of keratin for our supplement which has been proven to directly affect the quality of your skin, hair and nails," explains LYMA founder Lucy Goff. Even the most cursory investigation into topical collagen shows she’s done her research.

Hence why the LYMA Supplement is formulated with the world’s first solubilised, active keratin peptides, Cynatine® HNS, that’s both stable and clinically proven. Peer-reviewed studies into the patented active show 80% improved skin smoothness after 90 days, a 65% boost in hair shine, 88% higher nail resistance and a 12% decrease in skin wrinkle depth, (and we all silently slip LYMA Supplement into our online shopping carts).

A Holistic Approach: Treating Spots, Wrinkles, and Sensitivity Simultaneously

And when it comes to the split personality of menopausal skin, how does one treat spots, lines and sensitivity simultaneously? “I take the whole person approach and investigate what’s going on, so as to get to the root of the problem" says expert facialist Yvonne Martin. “That starts with asking a lot of questions in a consultation that lasts at least 20 to 30 mins prior to any treatment I do because I’m a big believer in getting to the root of a problem. Adopting this inward - outward approach, it doesn't take long to get the skin to change if there’s a progressive plan in place.”

Revolutionary Solutions: The Benefits of LYMA Skincare and Supplements

The meticulous client plans she designs entail a 360 approach to menopausal skin incorporating the LYMA Supplement, LYMA Skincare and the LYMA Laser. “Alongside a diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, eating high water content fruit and vegetables plus drinking plenty of water, the LYMA Supplement is a must,” says Yvonne. LYMA's unique formulation of ten potent plant-based ingredients plays beautifully into Yvonne Martin’s ‘inward-outward’ approach, working systematically to nourish hormonal activity and rapidly bring them back into equilibrium to benefit not just skin but the entire body.

Yvonne is also a huge advocate for the LYMA’s powerful anti-ageing Serum and Cream skincare duo Skin re-commissions its own collagen making factories and re-establishes the production levels of much young skin. “The LYMA Serum and Cream are packed with highly active anti-aging skin formulations to support eight mechanisms of skin aging. LYMA Skincare is absolutely the best thing you can do for menopausal skin.” The scientific data offers robust proof; LYMA Skincare delivers phenomenal results, including 72% improvement in skin hydration, 51% improvement in skin firmness, 24% improvement in skin elasticity and 21% reduction in redness.

Simple Strategies for a Balanced Menopausal Skincare Routine

And back to those teenage spots, what about tackling them? Retinol might be where your mind goes first and indeed, it’s blemish fighting, line-reducing prowess is why we all love it so, but often, inflamed menopausal skin simply cannot tolerate it. Those impressive percentages you’ve been building up to for years, might not be an option right now that the sensitivity has set in.

“Look for smart, less irritating alternatives to retinol like Retinyl Palmitate and Bakuchiol,” advises Yvonne Martin (both of which can be found in the LYMA Serum and Cream). “They’re every bit as effective as traditional retinol but carry none of the potential flakiness or sting.”

The most advanced tech solution to all the skin concerns menopause can manifest, the LYMA Laser offers a daily dose of skin sanity. Delivering 500mW of near-infrared low level laser light energy into the skin epidermis that’s not only sufficiently anti-inflammatory to bring down the blemishes but invigorates skin back to their optimal repair processes too.

Embrace Change: Navigating Menopausal Skin with Confidence

From clothing to skincare, there’s been a surge in menopause-centric lifestyle products, though some more genuine than others. Menopausal skin isn’t a fixed skin type, so it’s not necessary to seek out a specific menopause skincare range. Instead, it’s wise to focus on formulas that lock in long-term hydration, restock collagen reserves, increase cellular energy and deliver nutrients back into the skin.

“It’s about bringing skincare routine back to basics, not an 8-step skincare regime but pairing it down to complementary products that soothe, plump and nourish the skin, maintaining it’s delegate balance whilst still delivering potent actives,” concludes Yvonne Martin.

“Like every aspect of menopause, symptoms are transient and personal, so far better to offer skin stability by establishing an effective skincare routine and remaining consistent with it.”

No one wants to relive their teenage years, especially when it comes to skin. With LYMA’s 360 tech-led skin health approach, it seems it’s finally possible to put an end to skin’s hormonal meltdowns, wrangle both the spots and the wrinkles, and return skin to its optimum state.

References::

*https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/

David F. Archer (2012) Postmenopausal skin and estrogen ,Gynecological Endocrinology, 28:sup2, 2-6, DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2012.70539

**https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/skin-care-during-menopause#:~:text=Jowls%2C%20slack%20skin%2C%20and%20wrinkles&text=Studies%20show%20that%20women's%20skin,firmness%20and%20begins%20to%20sag.

***https://academic.oup.com/mend/article/19/4/833/2741274