Skin changes in three stages during menopause
Drier skin
Sebum (tallow) production can increase up to the age of 50, but decreases thereafter.
Sebum production is important for the skin to build an effective hydrolipidic structure, which helps to maintain the skin's moisture. When sebum production decreases, the water content of the skin also decreases and the skin becomes drier.
Thinning skin and enlarged pores
Skin thinning is another age-related change that can lead to wrinkles and enlarged pores. Skin thinning is caused by keratinocytes not renewing themselves at the same rate as before. This causes the epidermis to thin by about 6.4% per decade.
Thinner skin makes us more sensitive to the sun, as it is easier for the sun to penetrate. The dermis also becomes thinner with age. With fewer fibroblasts that form collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, the network of these substances is reduced, contributing to reduced skin firmness. You can test this for yourself by pinching your skin and noting how long it takes for the skin to return to its original position. The longer it takes, the longer the aging process has gone on. The thinner skin also makes blood vessels more visible and can look like a spider web of vessels. The reduced elasticity of the skin also often leads to enlarged pores.
Uneven pigmentation
Another age-related change affecting the skin is uneven pigmentation. This is due to a decrease in pigment-producing melanocytes in the epidermis by 10 to 20 percent for each decade after the age of thirty. Overactive melanocytes can also cause age spots, which are brown patches on the skin.
In summary, ageing can lead to drier, thinner and more unevenly pigmented skin. It is important to protect the skin from the sun and to use moisturizing products to reduce age-related changes in the skin.