Pimples, wrinkles, and sagging during menopause seem like life’s cruelest joke. Not only are we discovering that bright bulbs and fluorescent lights are not our friends, but even stranger perpetrators are lurking, too. As we peek at the mirror to engage in our usual daily (or multi-daily) scrutiny of our faces and conduct our hygiene routines, we see it. Right there, yep there next to that 2-inch chin hair that wasn’t there yesterday, what is that? It’s a pimple!
HOW CAN THIS BE???? Our braces are history, gum snapping is impossible with all those implants, and we graduated decades ago. So, how can we be experiencing the hallmark of puberty right here, right now, smack in the middle of our mid-life years?
Those delightful little hormones that are doing their swan dance inside you, ah ha, they are the culprit. Yep, hormones even in middle age can give you pimples! These babies can also bring you thinning and sagging skin. What could be crueler than a zit in your laugh lines?
If you find yourself looking more tired than you really are, then it might be gravity grabbing hold of your face and pulling it downward. Why? Because the little fatty layer under your skin is disappearing over time. Less, fat, yeah, that should be a good thing, right, but not so on your face, which we hate to tell you, leaves you with saggy skin. (sorry!)
With the normal decrease in estrogen, that aging and perimenopause bring, the collagen and elastin fibers (sounds smart huh!) that keep your skin taut and nicely shaped to your cheekbones and chin lose their pizzazz This creates a vacancy on your face and wrinkles move right on in. So, when people say chin up, they don’t get it, do they?
So, what can you do about all these changes that might be freaking you (and us) out just a little bit? Here are some tips:
WRINKLERS:
- Smoking thins the skin and makes wrinkles
- Sun prematurely ages your skin
- Alcohol and soft drinks (high in sodium) can deplete the body’s water which affects your skin among other things.
GETTING THE WRINKLES OUT
- Creams like Retinoid and Alpha-hydroxy can make skin appear more radiant
- Water, water everywhere. Drink as much as you can stand (32 – 64 oz every day)
- Eat good food filled with soy, vitamins C, E, A, and Zinc (which may help preserve collagen, moisturize the skin’s outer layer, and help to decrease fine wrinkles)
- Eat plenty of fresh fish (filled with omega 3 fatty acids) fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains also replenishes your complexion
- Botox injections, collagen, and various “fillers” are among the possible current cosmetic solutions to help iron out wrinkles
- Take estrogen can help to maintain the proper collagen content in tissues throughout your body but it does comewith risks so consult your doctor and READ, READ, READ the available literature on hormone replacement therapies.(see, plump can be a good thing!) and makes it look taut and keep it resilient