Menopause is sometimes referred to as “The Change” due to the profound impact that it can have on a woman’s body. These effects are vast and can meaningfully impact how a woman looks and feels, including affecting the skin, hair, and nails. With this in mind, our board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants wanted to discuss the effects that menopause has in more depth and explain what can be done to minimize its aesthetic effects.

Looking at a recent study published in the medical journal Cosmetics, nearly 500 women between the ages of 42 and 83 were asked about menopause, and its effects. 53% of responders said that their self-esteem was affected by going through menopause, and 47% of the group said that they had not been properly informed about the effects that menopause would have on their skin, hair, and nails before this process started.

The most common reported effect on the skin (70%) was worsened skin laxity, followed by skin dryness (53%), and the development of fine lines known medically as skin rhytides (47%). Other common issues that respondents mentioned included hyperpigmentation, worsening dark spots, and thinning of the skin.

In this same study, over 70% of people agreed that menopause had noticeably affected the quality and health of their hair and 67% said the same about their nails. Menopause affects their hair in many ways, which was reflected in the responses. The most common issues regarding hair included hair loss (51%), noticeable hair thinning (49%), chronic dryness (32%), and hair fragility (25%). For the nails, the most common issue by far was the feeling that the finger and toenails were becoming especially weak and brittle. Other commonly cited nail issues included peeling, and nails growing at a significantly decreased speed.

The good news is that there are effective, non-surgical treatments available for these and other issues commonly associated with menopause. Our cosmetic treatments for menopause include a wide range of options including microneedling, cosmetic laser treatments, facials, chemical peels, and other skin rejuvenating treatments and products. We haven’t mentioned excessive underarm sweating, but this is another very common issue associated with menopause that can be addressed with miraDry® sweat reduction treatments. For hair loss and thinning, our experts have decades of experience diagnosing the root cause of these issues and developing customized treatment plans based on the specific needs of each patient.

Menopause can be the source of considerable frustration, but you don’t need to go through it alone. For more information or to schedule a dermatology appointment, contact Dermatology Associates of Atlanta today. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more skin care tips and practice updates.