Are You In (or Almost In) Menopause?
Dry Skin Seems To Be Part Of The Deal

In menopause dry skin can appear even if your complexion has always been normal to oily. There are several reasons for this, though all of them may not apply to you personally.

With age, your skin becomes thinner and loses some of its oil-producing capabilities, sometimes causing flakiness, a rough texture, or dull appearance. Even though a man's skin (on the average) may not change in a big way until his eighties, a woman's skin tends to become drier after menopause.

That's two things you can't do much about. These next few, you have at least some control over.

Winter weather can really dry out your skin. The wind blowing outside and the heat going inside will both rob moisture from your complexion. It's important to drink your "eight glasses a day" even if you don't feel thirsty. You still need the health benefit of water for your body functions.

On the other hand, if you're in a desert region in the summer, that 10% humidity can be hard on you, too.

It's pretty easy to tell if your menopause dry skin is just dehydration: there are more of those fine lines, and your skin will lose its elasticity.

You can also switch to a richer moisturizer during the winter months for extra protection (Just be sure to change back to a lighter one when the weather warms up - too much oil in the summer can enlarge your pores).

Alcohol and caffeine both act as diuretics, so they can be drying, too. If you drink a glass of water before that alcoholic or caffeinated beverage, it will help you stay ahead of the game. Prescription diuretics, antihistamines, and isotretinoin (Accutane) are designed to remove fluids from your body - they can be an issue, as well.

Soaps and detergents were created to clean grease from surfaces, including your skin and scalp. When the natural (or added) oils are stripped from your skin, there is nothing to hold the moisture in, so you lose oil and water.

If you use kinder, gentler skin care products in menopause, dry skin won't cause you nearly so many problems. But beware of too much hot water (chlorination, too)! Instead of stripping your oils, too-hot water breaks them down, dissolving the protective lipid barrier. Results are still pretty much the same as using harsh cleansers.

More serious menopause dry skin issues include psoriasis and hypothyroidism (low thyroid). Please see your doctor or healthcare practitioner if you suspect one of these is causing your dry skin.

Menopause and Dry Skin Care

If left untreated, dry skin can lead to dermatitis (which just means "inflammation of the skin"). This is almost always avoidable.

Stay away from diuretics, drink plenty of water, include good fats in your diet, and you'll have moister, more elastic skin. By adding natural anti-aging creams to your skin care regimen, you could actually make the clock go backwards.

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