What Happens to Collagen as We Age, and Reach Menopause?

Did you know that, thanks to sex hormones, women have naturally softer skin than men?

Estrogens are a major contributor to the formation of collagen, a fibrillary protein. During youth, your skin is made up of 80% collagen. As long as this structure, similar to a rope, works optimally, your skin remains smooth and soft. Collagen is able to swell up and this, swelling capacity allows it to store water efficiently.

Your skin is strong from the inside. As our hormone levels decrease, the epidermis becomes thinner and more fragile. The dermis below it loses a third of its collagen over the first five years following menopause. Our skin is less supple, and no longer properly hydrated.

Natural regulation of fat content does not work as well as it did in the younger years. All of this makes the skin drier and more fragile. Imperfections sometimes appear on the face.

Some women even get pimples at the beginning of menopause; hormonal variation is involved. The main cause is production of estrogen is slowed down; that of testosterone (male hormone) remains stable. In cases of excess testosterone, from the age of 50, pimples can suddenly appear the production our mucous membranes are also affected by these changes. About 40% of women notice vaginal dryness. The consequences are irritation and pain during intercourse. The risk of infection increases as we cannot fight off germs and fungi as we used to.

 

While it may not be possible to prevent these changes in our skin, we can slow the process down.  When it comes to irritation and imperfections here are a few tips on what to use, so that our cosmetics don’t aggravate the situation.

 

 

1. Choose a body wash that is mild and not too drying
2. Choose a shower that is not too hot, it dries the skin less than a bath.
3. The application of a cream is essential. Creams or gels containing organic substances such as hyaluronic acid help the skin stay hydrated. This is particularly important for parts of the body such as the shins, which are often extremely dry in women, and which are liable to flake.
4. For the face, be careful to avoid irritable substances such as alcohol, perfumes or preservatives, as they can be harmful to sensitive skin.
5. As you reach middle age, the skin of the face needs a lubricating and moisturizing cream, to be applied twice a day.
6. Experiments with the most diverse skincare products also show that these products do more harm than they treat.
7. Do consult your dermatologist (strongly recommended).
8. In case of dryness or vaginal irritation, anything that improves the irrigation of the pelvis is beneficial, such as perineal gymnastics, walking or cycling.

To relieve pain during intercourse, a lubricating gel may be helpful (https://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/luvoil-venus-with-cbd-200-mg/)