All About Menopause: The Basics

Irregular periods, hot flashes, and hormonal changes- if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms at 45 years or older, chances are, you’re undergoing menopause. And while most women will experience menopause at some point in their lives, statistics show that 73% of them don’t actually know how to alleviate the symptoms that come along with it (including skincare). Also referred to as “The Change”, menopause is the point in time when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without her menstrual period. In simpler terms, it marks the end of her regular menstrual cycle.

Stages of Menopause

Menopause can be broken down into 3 main stages.

Stage 1: Perimenopause

• The natural transition towards menopause is referred to as perimenopause and typically begins between the ages of 45-55.
• It usually lasts anywhere from 7-14 years, but the duration will vary depending on lifestyle factors and genetics.
• Hormones begin to decline and both estrogen & progesterone levels begin to fluctuate.

Stage 2: Menopause

• The official end and retirement of your reproductive system. 
• Ovaries no longer release eggs or secrete estrogen/progesterone. 

Stage 3: Postmenopause 

• Hormone levels begin to stabilize. 
• Symptoms begin to ease & subside.
• A sense of relief begins to settle in. In the same study, 59% of postmenopausal women reported feeling happier.

Signs & Symptoms

Because a lot of hormonal changes take place during menopause, various symptoms are bound to emerge. Some of them include:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flashes
• Loss of bladder control, or incontinence
• Trouble sleeping
• Drier vaginal area
• Mood swings
• Increased irritability/stress/depression
• Noticeable weight gain

How to Treat

Here are a few ways you can alleviate menopause symptoms:

• To help with mood swings, using relaxation and stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep-breathing exercises can help. Taking over-the-counter products like Vitamin B6 or St. John’s Wort can also help. If you’re experiencing severe depression, talk to your doctor about antidepressant therapy.
• If you’re experiencing incontinence, make sure to drink lots of water and avoid foods/beverages that contain loads of caffeine as this can further irritate the bladder. Otherwise, doing kegel exercises can help reduce incontinence episodes.
• For hot flashes & night sweats, make sure to dress in light pajamas and drink cool water throughout the night. Keeping a frozen pack under your pillow can also help. 

Skin is Affected

The decline in estrogen levels can also drastically affect the health and appearance of the skin. Some of these changes include:

• Decreased collagen production
• Increased fine lines & wrinkles
• Thinner, looser skin
• Dryness
• Acne
• Sun spots

Skin Solutions

Because a loss of collagen production occurs during menopause, dermatologists suggest using collagen-stimulating skincare ingredients like peptides and retinol. (Ex. Diamond Line Refine, High Dose Retinoid Regenerator). Part of aging during menopause also includes losing moisture in the skin. To combat this, dermatologists recommend looking for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to help lock in hydration. (Ex. Deep Blue Hydration Serum, KD Day Dream Moisturizer, KD Night Quench)

Final Thoughts

Like most things, we all age. Even though some of the downsides that come with aging and menopause are not-so-fun, that doesn’t mean we should disregard it. If you’re undergoing changes through menopause, hopefully this guide helps prepare you for this next chapter in life. If you want to learn more about menopause, listen to my podcasthere.