Skin Changes

[Med Help]

Since I began Menopause, I have noticed a drastic decrease in moisture in my skin.  What causes this and is there anything I can do to improve this dry, dry, dry skin?

Millie M

[connie28]

For 2 years I have had dry, itchy skin.  I thought it was because I have Sjogren's (an illness similar to rheumatoid arthritis)and take plaquenil. I would scratch my arms uncontrollably.  I tried different allergy meds and felt too drowsy. In November my gyno asked me to try Activella because of my vaginal dryness and family history of osteoporosis.  In 2 days my itchy skin stopped!  I also sleep like a log!  I had been against any hormone therapy to that point.  Now, I'd hate to give it up. Try it for a week !

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

Skin changes in menopause are very common.  Estrogen helps to keep the subcutaneous tissue (the supportive layer of the skin made up of collagen, elastic fibers known as elastin and hair follicles tissue just under the skin) full and this in turn keep away wrinkles and keeps the skin moist.  In the first years after  menopause, estrogen levels decline quickly and the amount of collagen decreases by as much as 2% per year.  The elastic fibers begin to fragment and shred leaving cystic spaces in the dermal layer known as lacunae which we recognize as sagging, wrinkled skin. It also leads to dryness.  This has been studied in the article Bolognia JL, Braverman IM, Rousseau ME, Sarrel PM. Maturitas. Skin changes in menopause.1989 Dec;11(4):295-304.  Things you can do include avoiding excessive sun, use a good quality sun block when you go outdoors (even in winter), use skin moisturizers to keep skin moist, drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses daily, 10 to 12 in summer), maintain good nutrition, take a multivitamin, avoid soaps that are heavily perfumed.  Bath oils are not recommended because thy can cause you to slip and fall. Also, have your doctor check you for low thyroid hormone which is a very treatable cause of dry skin.

Machelle M. Seibel, MD