Going through menopause can be a trying time for a lot of us. We know ourselves from personal experience how tempting it can be to reach for a glass or two of something chilled after a long day.
It may seem like the best way to decompress and unwind but, in menopause, that glass of vino may not be your best friend. As well as aggravating symptoms like anxiety, hot flashes and brain fog, it can also make menopausal skin symptoms a whole lot worse.
WHAT HAPPENS TO SKIN IN MENOPAUSE?
Drinking alcohol affects our skin at any lifestage but it can have an even greater impact on our complexion during menopause. As our hormones start to fluctuate and decline, our skin changes dramatically. Reduced levels of oestreogen and collagen cause skin to become drier, thinner and less radiant. At the same time, our skin barrier starts to weaken and skin becomes much more sensitive and prone to irritation as a result. Skin starts to lose its bounce and elasticity and literally loses its ability to hold onto water. Redness, inflammation and flushing are all common skin symptoms in menopause. When you throw alcohol to the mix, these skin symptoms can get even worse.
ALCOHOL CAN MAKE MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS WORSE
Alcohol dehydrates the body and this includes the skin. The diuretic affect of alcohol means that your skin loses fluids and vital nutrients essential for radiant, healthy-looking skin. Skin appears thinner and duller and fine lines are more visible. As your skin is already losing radiance and elasticity in menopause due to hormonal changes, these effects can be even more pronounced. Skin can develop a grey, dull tone. Alcohol also causes flushing and redness and can aggravate hot flashes caused by menopause.
IN MENOPAUSE YOUR ALCOHOL TOLERANCE DECLINES
For many women, menopause coincides with a reduced tolerance to alcohol. This is because we are literally less able to hold onto water than we used to be. Cartilage and tendons lose water as we get older, and our body is less able to dilute alcohol which shows its effects on our skin.
At the same time, levels of dehydrogenase enzymes in our liver decrease – these enzymes are responsible for breaking down and metabolising alcohol. As a result, we become much more sensitive to its effects. This is why our hangovers can be much more severe in menopause and a sociable glass in the evening can make you feel and look as though you’ve been out clubbing till the early hours the next day.
What can help skin during menopause?
DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION
You don’t have to eliminate alcohol completely – the good news is you can still enjoy a drink, but the key is to drink in moderation to mimimise its effects in your body and your complexion. Current guidelines for alcohol consumption is a maximum of 14 units per week for women – which is a lot less than you might think – it’s around 8 standard glasses of wine.
Everyone is different and has a different tolerance to alcohol. You know yourself better than anyone so It’s important to set your own guidelines when it comes to drinking within the recommended limits. If this feels too much you should reassess how often and how much you are drinking.
HAVE ALCOHOL FREE DAYS
A good way to regulate your alcohol intake is to designate some days as non-drinking days. Try not drinking during the week or only having a glass of wine on just 3 days of the week for example. Avoid binge-drinking – spread your units throughout the week to minimise the impact on your health.
HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
Remember to drink a glass of water with every alcoholic drink. Being properly hydrated can go a long way to reducing dehydration and an unpleasant hangover the next day. Never drink on an empty stomach.
LOOK FOR ALCOHOL-FREE ALTERNATIVES
There is a whole range of great alcohol-free alternatives now so if you want to avoid alcohol entirely there has never been so much choice.
RESTORE & REJUVENATE WITH THE RIGHT SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
Life is short and you may not want to give up alcohol entirely. We haven’t! But if you do still fancy the odd tipple make sure you are taking great care of your skin to minimise the effects of drinking.
In menopause we need to look for products that contain skincare ingredients that increase lost hydration, restore glow and boost collagen production. We are talking about powerful actives that will make a real difference to your skin BUT they need to be formulated at the right levels and in a way that isn’t going to cause irritation. For optimal results you need a combination of skin-strengthening ceramides, collagen-boosting peptides, super hydrator hyaluronic acid, potent antioxidants, wrinkle-busting retinol and radiance restoring niacinamide in your skincare routine.
The Menopause Skin Solution Set contains ALL of these ingredients in an expertly blended trio of must-have products in an easy to use 3 step routine for AM/PM.
Designed to target the visual signs of oestrogen and collagen loss it is a total solution for the unique needs of menopausal skin.
Step 1 Quench & Soothe Serum (35ml) is a next level super hydrator designed to soothe and calm sensitised skin. Helps control hormonal breakouts for an ultra-hydrated, brighter, clearer complexion. Superstar Ingredients: Multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and Vitamin B5.
Step 2 Collagen Boost Moisturiser (50ml) is a multi-tasking dream cream designed to boost collagen production and deliver vital nourishment for plumper, glowing, firmer skin. Superstar Ingredients: Signal peptides, resveratrol, niacinamide, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, avocado and cupuacu butters.
Step 3 Super A Retinol Sleep Cream (50ml) A high-performance retinol blend designed to accelerate cell turnover for radiant, smoother, stronger skin. Specifically designed for menopausal skin so you can enjoy all the benefits of retinol without the irritating downsides. Superstar ingredients: 0.5% encapsulated retinol, ceramides, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid.
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