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In brief
- During the menopause, oestrogen drops. As a result your skin holds less moisture and makes less collagen: it becomes drier, thinner and less firm.
- That can happen quickly, sometimes within a year or two. You can still get results. We then build up more gently and put the emphasis on hydration.
- At home, a mild cleanser, a richer cream and daily sun protection do most of the work.
- In the salon, the Hydra treatment, the Anti-ageing treatment, connective tissue massage and microneedling with collagen suit best.
- Itching, a rash or a lot more hair on your chin in a short time? Have your GP look at it first.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What changes in your skin?
The menopause is the period in which your body makes fewer female hormones. For your skin, it is mainly the drop in oestrogen that you notice. That hormone helps your skin hold on to moisture and supports the production of collagen, the substance that keeps your skin firm.
When it drops, a lot changes at once. Your skin makes less sebum and less of the oils that hold moisture. It becomes thinner and loses its bounce. And it reacts more quickly to products you used without any problems for years.
How strongly you notice it differs from person to person. One person mainly sees dryness, another lines, dark marks or even spots again. That's why we first look at what you see and feel, and only then choose a treatment.
What you see and where it comes from.
These are the changes that stand out most during the menopause.
Dry, tight skin
Your skin feels tight after washing and flakes more easily, especially on your cheeks and around your mouth. A cream that used to be enough often isn't any more. There is more about this under dry skin.
Less firmness
Your jawline softens, your neck loses firmness and lines get deeper. After the menopause the loss of collagen speeds up. Read on under loss of firmness.
More sensitive skin
Familiar products can suddenly sting, and hot flushes make your skin warm and red. Fewer products and milder active ingredients then give your skin some rest. See also sensitive skin.
Marks that stand out
Pigment from earlier years becomes more visible, and marks caused by hormones react strongly to sun and heat. How to lighten them is explained under pigmentation.
Spots again
Your skin can become blemish-prone, with deeper spots along your jaw and chin on skin that is drier at the same time. Strong products from your teenage years make that worse. See blemish-prone skin.
Hairs on the chin or upper lip
Around the menopause many women get more hairs on their chin, jaw or upper lip. You can have those waxed. If noticeably more or darker hair appears in a short time, have your GP look at it first.
Your routine during the menopause.
Most of the work is done at home. These adjustments do the most for skin going through the menopause.
| Topic | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cleansing | Gently, with a cleansing milk or a soft gel, and lukewarm water | Foaming cleansers and hot water also strip away the oils your skin now makes less of |
| Serum | Hyaluronic acid on skin that is still slightly damp | It attracts moisture and holds on to it in the top layer |
| Cream | Richer than you're used to, with ceramides or plant oils | It tops up the layer of oils that protects your skin |
| Sun protection | Every morning, in winter too and when it's cloudy | UV light breaks down collagen and makes marks darker |
| Retinol | Build up slowly, a few evenings a week | It helps your skin renew itself, and can irritate dry skin at first |
| Scrubs and strong acids | Less often, or not at all for a while | Thinner skin gets irritated more quickly |
The order in which you apply things is explained under the order of your skincare. You can read more about the active ingredients under active ingredients explained.
Which treatments suit you during the menopause?
Skin during the menopause mainly needs moisture, nourishment and firmness. These treatments suit that best.
Hydra treatment
€79.00Hyaluronic acid and a cooling mask for skin that lacks moisture. Your skin feels plumper and softer straight away.
60 minutesevery 4 weeksViewAnti-ageing treatment
€75.00A collagen serum, a gel mask, massage and LED therapy. Afterwards your skin feels firmer and looks fresher.
60 minutesevery 4 weeksViewAnti-ageing+ treatment
€89.00The same treatment with a jelly mask added for deep hydration. Nice if your skin is dry too.
75 minutesevery 4 weeksViewMicroneedling with collagen
€99.00Triggers your own production of collagen and elastin. In the weeks after the treatment your skin becomes firmer and smoother.
50 minutes4 to 6 times, every 3 to 4 weeksViewConnective tissue massage
€59.00A cleanse and a firm massage of face, neck and décolletage, with cupping. Your skin looks fresher straight away.
30 minutesbooked per sessionViewRedness treatment
€75.00Mild and calming, for skin that is red or feels sensitive or dry.
60 minutes3 to 5 times, every 4 weeksView
If you don't know where to start, we first look at your skin together at the first skin appointment.
What we do differently for skin during the menopause.
Building up more gently
We start peels and microneedling milder and build them up more slowly. Thinner skin needs more time to recover.
More emphasis on hydration
We finish with moisture and nourishment, so your skin stays comfortable until your next appointment.
Neck and décolletage too
That is often where the menopause shows first. With microneedling your neck can be added for €35.00, and the connective tissue massage continues down to your décolletage.
Looking again every time
Your skin can change quickly in these years. That's why we look again at every appointment, and adjust the plan if needed.
Taking hot flushes into account
Warmth makes sensitive skin redder. We then keep the steam short, and cool your skin down with a mask.
Salon or GP: where do you go?
| Topic | Where to go | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, tight skin | In the salon | With hydration in the salon and richer care at home |
| Lines and less firmness | In the salon | With a course of microneedling, possibly with connective tissue massage added |
| Pigmentation | In the salon | If a spot changes shape or colour, have your GP look at it first |
| More hairs on the chin or upper lip | In the salon, with waxing | If a lot more appears in a short time, see your GP first |
| Itching, a rash or burning skin | With your GP | Once it has settled, you are welcome back in the salon afterwards |
| Hot flushes and poor sleep | With your GP | Also for questions about your hormones |
What does a treatment cost?
You pay per session. Because you usually do a series, those amounts are shown too.
| Treatment | Per session | Usual course | Full course (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra treatment | €79.00 | 4 to 6 sessions | €316.00 to €474.00 |
| Anti-ageing+ treatment | €89.00 | 3 to 6 sessions | €267.00 to €534.00 |
| Microneedling with collagen | €99.00 | 4 to 6 sessions | €396.00 to €594.00 |
These are the prices at Moons in Enschede. You book the connective tissue massage per session, for €59.00. All prices are on the prices page.
See your GP first with these symptoms.
If you have itching, a rash or burning skin, if a spot changes shape or colour, or if you get noticeably more or darker hair on your chin or jaw in a short time, have your GP look at it first. The same applies if you use medication that can affect your skin. After that we're happy to take a look together with you.
Frequently asked questions about skin during menopause
What does the menopause do to your skin?
With less oestrogen, your skin holds less moisture and makes less collagen. It becomes drier, thinner and less firm, and often more sensitive too. Sometimes marks or spots come with it.
Why does your skin get drier during the menopause?
Your skin makes less sebum and less of the oils that hold moisture. More moisture then evaporates, and your skin feels tight more quickly. A mild cleanser and a richer cream help.
Why does your skin sag more during the menopause?
Oestrogen supports the production of collagen. When it drops, the loss of collagen speeds up. You see that in your jawline, your neck and lines that get deeper.
Which facial suits you during the menopause?
For dryness, the Hydra treatment fits best, for more mature skin the Anti-ageing treatment, and for more firmness a course of microneedling with collagen. Connective tissue massage goes well with it. If you're unsure, we choose together at the first skin appointment.
Does microneedling help skin during the menopause?
If firmness is what you're after, yes. Microneedling triggers your own production of collagen and elastin. You do a course of four to six sessions, with three to four weeks in between. We build up more gently, because thinner skin needs more time to recover.
Can I have a peel during the menopause?
That's possible, with a milder peel and more time between treatments. If your skin is very dry or irritated, we start with hydration and the peel comes later.
Which cream suits skin during the menopause?
A richer cream than you're used to, with ceramides or plant oils, over a serum with hyaluronic acid. What exactly suits depends on your skin. We're happy to look at that together with you.
Do I need sun protection every day during the menopause?
Yes, every morning, in winter too. UV light breaks down collagen and makes pigment darker, and those are exactly the two things at play now. There is more under sun protection.
Do you get spots again during the menopause?
It can happen. Because of the hormones, your skin can become blemish-prone, with deeper spots along your jaw and chin. Your skin is drier at the same time, so strong products backfire. We then combine a cleansing treatment with hydration.
What can you do about pigmentation during the menopause?
Sun protection every day, and in the salon vitamin C, mild acids or microneedling. Marks caused by hormones are more stubborn and come back more quickly. If a spot changes shape or colour, have your GP look at it first.
What can you do about hairs on your chin during the menopause?
You can have those waxed. One zone costs from €8.00. If noticeably more or darker hair appears in a short time, have your GP look at it first, because sometimes there is another cause behind it.
Why do my familiar products suddenly sting?
Your skin gets thinner and the protective layer weaker. As a result a product penetrates more quickly and your skin reacts sooner. Use fewer products at the same time, leave scrubs and strong acids alone for a while and choose a mild cleanser.
Does your skin go back to how it was after the menopause?
Your skin stays drier and thinner than before. With a routine that suits it and treatments that give moisture and firmness, it can look plumper and calmer again.
How often do you come for a treatment?
We usually start with a series, for example four to six times, every four weeks. After that, a treatment every six to eight weeks is enough for most people.
Does connective tissue massage help during the menopause?
It gives your skin a fresh look and takes tension away around your jaw, temples and neck. For skin that becomes lastingly firmer, you also choose microneedling.
What does a treatment at Moons cost?
The Hydra treatment costs €79.00, the Anti-ageing treatment €75.00 and microneedling with collagen €99.00. Connective tissue massage costs €59.00. All prices are on the prices page.
Where do you start if you don't know what your skin needs?
At the first skin appointment. We look at your skin, ask about your routine and treat you straight away. That appointment takes an hour and costs €69.00.
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