Menopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Symptoms, Skincare, and Hormone Therapy
Understanding Menopause
It’s time to have a serious conversation about menopause, menopausal skincare, and everything in between. Did you know that one-third of the American female population is going through pre-menopausal or menopausal stages of their lives? This typically happens between ages 35 and 55, when hormones shift and there’s a significant drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. This isn't a minor event; it’s a huge shift in how women feel, often experiencing over 70 different symptoms. Yet, many go through this in silence, not taken seriously by their doctors.
Common Symptoms of Menopause
Here are just a few symptoms brought on by menopause:
- Hot flashes
- Acid reflux
- Anxiety
- Joint pain
- Arthritis
- Brain fog
- Acne
- Bloating
- Crawling skin sensation
- Dry skin
- Dry or itchy eyes
- Eczema
- Fatigue
- Frozen shoulder
- Heart palpitations
- Incontinence
- Irritability
- Thinning hair
- Sleep disturbances
- Memory decline
- Weight gain
- Wrinkles
Not every woman will experience all the symptoms, which is why it's crucial to find a competent doctor.
The Importance of Competent Medical Support
When I first arrived in the United States 35 years ago, I was introduced to one of the most brilliant OB-GYNs by a client who was pregnant at the time. He was, and still is, light years ahead of the lackluster and lazy medical community. I learned so much from him, but I also witnessed many of my clients being gaslighted by their seemingly distinguished doctors. These affluent women could afford the best, yet they continued to experience unnecessary symptoms due to being misinformed. Typical doctors would dismiss their symptoms as just aging and offer antidepressants. Some of the lucky ones who found a competent MD that understood HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy, also known as MHT, Menopausal Hormonal Therapy) were shocked at how quickly their symptoms were resolved.
During menopause, your brain isn’t just a little bit fuzzy. According to Dr. Lisa Mosconi, author of The Menopause Brain, you are actually developing a whole new brain as it restructures. This underscores the need for a comprehensive menopausal health assessment, covering hormones, brain health, and more. Imagine if men went through the same thing; it would likely be treated as a national emergency, with significant funding allocated for research and support.
Misconceptions About HRT
In 1998, the Women’s Health Initiative was launched to assess the risks vs. benefits of HRT. Although HRT was known to relieve many menopause symptoms, eight and a half years later, the study showed a slight increase in breast cancer in one group, while also showing a reduction in colon cancer and osteoporosis. The study was flawed on many levels, such as the average age of participants being 61 years old rather than 51, which already presented an increased risk of various health issues. Since then, this study has been debunked many times. In 2018, Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris published Estrogen Matters, debunking the myth that estrogen causes cancer. Despite this, many doctors still cannot be bothered to get deep into the weeds and learn how to solve the problem.
Personal Experiences and Recommendations
I am not a doctor and will never advise anyone on what’s good for them, but I have seen the incredible benefits of HRT for women. One of my clients, a brilliant documentary maker, told me that without her daily dose of estrogen or progesterone, she would probably be in jail by now. It may be funny, but I hear this all the time. Of course, there are many health considerations to take into account when starting HRT, and only you and your doctor can decide what’s best for you.
Menopausal Skincare
When estrogen levels drop, the skin immediately becomes dry, loses firmness, bounce, vitality, and radiance. Aging accelerates. While moisturizers with a small amount of estrogen are not a bad idea, they do very little compared to prescription estrogen for your whole body. I personally add a little estrogen to my moisturizer a couple of times a week but haven’t noticed much difference. I compared an estrogen moisturizer to Heal The Need, and Heal The Need came out on top, likely because any menopausal skin’s first priority is deep hydration. Whether you’re on HRT or not, your skin requires high-quality ingredients, nutrient-dense and freshly sourced oils, and targeted calming peptides. You might not need to overhaul your entire skincare routine, but adding a few targeted serums or moisturizers can boost hydration and calm volatile menopausal skin.
Final Thoughts
Menopause should be a new chapter in our lives rather than a struggle. I hope this blog prompts you to look into this a little deeper. By learning to give our bodies what they need, both internally and externally, we can navigate this transition more smoothly.
Recommended Reading
Here are the books I highly recommend for every woman 35 and older:
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