“Beauty’s but skin deep…

Posted by Liz on Jun 7, 2008 in women's health | 0 comments

Nay, it is not so…” John Davies, Hereford, 1616

I was at the hairdresser this morning reading a trashy mag and ran across an advert for Curel Lifestages Moisturizing Lotion for Menopause and Beyond. If you interested in checking out the product, web page copy claims that studies have shown that this product increases hydration and skin elasticity.

Hmmm. Menopause skin. I’ve never heard of it. Sure, I’ve heard that the skin loses its elasticity as we age and becomes thinner and dryer. In women in particular, the decline in estrogen levels has been linked to dry skin mostly around the vaginal area and also within the vagina. Obese women appear to be at risk for developing thickening, itching skin on soles of their feet and palms of their hands.

Dry skin in older women occurs as a result of a decline in the amount of sebum, or the surface film of natural oils and broken down cells; this occurs as a result of declining estrogen levels. Sebum slows down the evaporation of moisture from the skin. Note that men don’t experience a similar decline until they are in their 80s.

So what can you do about it? Sure, moisturizing can temporarily help skin appearance but aging is aging and there’s little we can do about the inevitable. Hormone replacement therapy can definitely assist with vaginal thinning if that is what ails, but if you’re like me and can’t “do” hormones, well, it seems that the option is a slippery slope.

I suspect that there are many desperate perimenopausal sisters out there willing to try anything. Me? I’ll stick to the devil I know!