Acne and Menopause

Menopause and adolescence share a lot of similarities. They both are the result of surges in hormone levels, that can cause moodiness, discomfort, and yes – ACNE! Just when the years of worry and embarrassment about pimples have faded from memory, they’re back! Along with all the other changes a woman is enduring during this time, it can just seem to add insult to injury.

Why is this happening?
Your skin contains sebaceous glands that produce an oil called sebum. Sebum causes the outer layer of skin cells to die to make room for new ones. Certain hormones, including DHEA and testosterone, cause these glands to produce more sebum, which causes more cells to die. Pores and hair follicles become clogged by the dead skin cells and oil, or sebum, builds up underneath.

Skin has certain bacteria that feed off the oil. Trapped under the skin surface, the bacteria and the oil form a whitehead. These can become inflamed as the bacteria break the oil down into free fatty acids that attract white blood cells. A blackhead occurs when the trapped oil and bacteria partially open to the surface and the mass turns black due to melanin, the skin's pigment, producing a blackhead.

Hair follicles and the sebaceous glands contain an enzyme that can convert estrogen into androgen testosterone. Therefore, when estrogen levels increase during perimenopause, more estrogen is available to be turned into testosterone. Higher levels of testosterone cause the glands to produce more oil, causing acne.

At the same time, women are experiencing other changes in their skin partially due to aging. Also years of exposure to the sun, smoking, chemicals, etc. begin to take their toll. Skin is becoming dryer, discoloring and losing elasticity. Wrinkles are creeping around the eyes and mouth as elastin and collagen fibers deep in the skin begin to break down.

There are a lot of products now available to help rejuvenate your skin, but here are some simple things you can do to keep acne under control, help your skin look healthy, and feel better as well.

1. Eat a good, balanced diet. Follow a diet high in fiber and calcium and low in fat. Reduce the amount of refined carbohydrates or sugars, such as sweets. Refined carbohydrates can lead to high levels of insulin which, in turn, can increase production of the androgens affecting oil production in the skin. And, of course, drink plenty of water each day.
2. Take supplements. There are a number of vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc., that are recommended to women in perimenopause. Of these, vitamin C and B vitamins are essential for maintaining healthy skin.
3. Clean your skin regularly. Regular cleaning prevents the buildup to dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil on the skin. Use cleansers that are “pH balanced.” If your skin is dry, using a moisturizing cleanser once per day may be enough. If it’s oily, at least twice with an oil-free moisturizing cleanser is probably best. And if you have combination skin, there are products available in stores formulated and identified for your skin type. Regardless of your skin type, if you wear make-up, remember to remove it before going to bed. Makeup will limit your skin’s ability to rejuvenate itself naturally as you sleep,
4. After cleaning, close your pores. Use a toner or cool water to close your pores after cleaning.
5. Use exfoliants to renew your skin. Exfoliating can be done simply with a clean washcloth and any one of a number of products now available. Look for ones with alpha hydroxyl acids, which work as both an exfoliant and anti-oxidant. (Anti-oxidants help the skin resist and repair damage caused by ultraviolet light.) Treat yourself to a facial every six weeks – either at home by yourself or at a spa with a professional. A professional facial may be best to help remove any blackheads. And don’t simply focus on your face! Acne can occur on your back or chest, so give your entire body the benefits of exfoliating.

If you are having moderate acne problems or occasional breakouts, there are various lotions, creams, and liquid make-ups available that contain benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide helps prevent the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Salicylic acid can control the swelling that can occur with pimples. If you have dry skin, test a small amount before using a full dose to make sure the products won’t irritate your skin.

There are also home remedies you can try. If you have a pimple that hasn’t come to a head yet, try applying apple tea tree oil at night. This oil has antibacterial properties that can produce a significant decrease in the size of the pimple by morning. Another simple home remedy is putting a paste of baking soda and lemon juice on the pimple.

If you’re having severe acne problems, it is best to consult your doctor or dermatologist. Two options for treatment of severe acne are antibiotics and birth control pills. Antibiotics, such as tetracycline or erythromycin, prevent the acne bacteria from breaking down the sebum oil into free fatty acids. However, they can have other side effects, such as yeast infections, that need to be discussed with your doctor.

Birth control pills are often used as acne prevention because they cause the body to produce less estrogen and therefore, the sebaceous glands produce less sebum. Birth control pills are also prescribed to perimenopausal women to help regulate the menstrual cycle until menopause arrives and reduce the potential of endometrial cancer.
So, don’t go into hiding during menopause because pimples have popped back up. There are a lot of things you can do and products you can use to prevent and control acne and to take care of yourself overall during this period of change. Of course, if the problem becomes severe, consult your doctor about what the right treatment might be for you.

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