Dr Yusra Al-Mukhtar shares the results of her Glowing the Distance: Menopause Skin Report. The report assesses physical, skin-related and psychological concerns of perimenopausal and menopausal women.
Thanks to the efforts of organisations such as The Menopause Charity, which are backed by high-profile campaigners like Davina McCall and Dr Louise Newson, recent years have seen more widespread awareness of menopause and its 38 mental health and physical symptoms. More women are beginning to share first-hand experiences of this transitional stage of their lives at home, in relationships and at work, and I welcome the shift in attitudes and perceptions around normalising this life phase.
It’s estimated that 15.5m women across the UK are at some stage of the menopause transition. Many of these women experience symptoms without even realising what is causing them. Women aged 40-44 can experience perimenopause, and menopause can occur between 44-63 for a duration of up to four to 10 years.
It is clear that the previous taboo around menopause has meant that conversations in the media about identifying issues and treatment have been long overdue. Indeed, often, conversations don’t take place among women until symptoms start.
There is a gap in knowledge between generations, with younger women aged 18-44 having lower levels of awareness and not engaging with older women in their lives about the changes they are experiencing as a result. Female friendships are the primary source of support and empathy; beyond this, women describe a lack of support from their employers, their families, and healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, 64% of women feel uncomfortable speaking to healthcare professionals about menopause, stating that they have often had their symptoms dismissed.
“80% of women feel unprepared”
Women are yet to be empowered to understand the changes that will come and lack knowledge of how to take control of skin and body symptoms. Of the 2,069 UK women aged 18-74 surveyed, almost two-thirds (63%) didn’t realise signs can take hold ten years before their last period. Eight in 10 women (80%) said they feel “unprepared”, compared to just 17% of women who claim to know how to prevent the signs of perimenopause and menopause on the skin and body.
As women learn more about this life stage, it is understandable that they are fearful and have increased questions about what to expect. We have coined the term “periscaries” after recognising a common theme of concern from pre and perimenopausal women of what is to come. It seems in the eyes of so many, there exists a fear that this stage marks “the beginning of the end”, and we hope to empower women with education to recognise this is not the case and allow them to take ownership of this next life change, armed with knowledge and confidence to write their own story and access care and treatments if required.
Better education will lead to preventative action
I am calling for better education on the signs of menopause onset. By gaining knowledge, women can become empowered to take control early on in the journey, preventing symptoms that can wreak havoc on the mind, skin and body.
Awareness then needs to make way for preventative action. I work with patients to provide non-invasive aesthetic treatments using cutting-edge technologies and medical-grade skincare to prevent and delay the signs of menopause-related skin changes. My survey tells us that women are prepared to adapt their skincare regimens and embrace treatments to prevent the onset of symptoms. Their desire is present, but their knowledge and preparation are not. As with all things healthcare, women need to know what options are available to them to approach this phase of their life with preventative action proactively rather than reactively.
Learnings from my previous research findings published in the post-pandemic skincare report Beautified Britain Index: The Skin Report have been incorporated into Glowing the Distance, as well as positive and empowering solutions to menopause skin issues. This includes details on how to prepare for menopausal skin, what to expect, treatment and ‘tweakments’ available and how to approach menopausal health, vitality and well-being holistically.
Impacts of menopause on the skin and mental health
Our study found that the most common signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause that women of all ages would be keen to prevent are:
- Increased sweating (51%)
- Sagging of the face contours, cheekbones and jaw/neck area (38%)
- Increase in fine lines and wrinkles (33%)
- Acne breakouts (32%)
- Dark circles around the eyes/dark spots on the face and body (29%)
- Dry, itchy, red/puffy skin (28%)
- Loss of radiance and dull skin (25%)
Menopause affects the body in various ways, and we know that, overall, menopause impacts both physical and mental health.
One of the most common symptoms of menopause is loss of confidence and worsening anxiety. When asked about the psychosocial impacts of potential or experienced skin issues caused by perimenopause or how menopause might affect respondents, the results demonstrated:
- 57% said that they feel anxious and stressed
- 45% no longer like having photos taken or being in family photos
- 48% avoid going out and social events
- 42% feel more sadness
- 43% avoid looking in the mirror, and 58% are generally lacking in confidence
Skin and confidence are inextricably linked, and if treated preventatively, menopause could provide a unique opportunity to empower women to take on this stage of their life with knowledge and power, with positivity in ageing and proactively embracing preventative medically proven skincare. This would mean improved skin health and tackling skin-related concerns to better manage the menopause skin journey.
Testimonial
One of our patients, Yvonne, 56, championed these findings. Yvonne hit menopause at age 50 with no warning signs.
Yvonne said:
“I had no idea it was coming. I thought my period would slowly diminish over time, but they just disappeared altogether. In my mother’s generation, no one would talk about it. It was a taboo subject. No one would share their signs or symptoms, so I didn’t even realise what was going on when I had hot flashes, hair loss, fatigue, joint pain, and sleepless nights.
I felt like I had aged overnight. I just didn’t like my reflection or what I was seeing in the mirror, and I felt old and haggard, and I felt like I was the only one going through that. I’ve since had a number of treatments, including Endolift, Ultracel and dermal fillers to help regain some of the lost collagen and help redefine my facial contours and jawline. It gave me back my confidence. I left it too late, and if there is one thing I wish I knew, I could and should have started earlier. The two things that were best for me were medical-grade skincare and dermal fillers. I think that has really changed my skin, and I would 100% recommend that you start early and don’t leave it till it’s too far gone. Prevention is better and cheaper than a cure!”
Top preventative treatments
When asked what preventative actions women would consider, a third of women (33%) said they would consider any non-surgical cosmetic treatment to help them look and feel better.
The top non-invasive/non-surgical treatments that respondents would consider to prevent the signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are:
- HRT gel or HRT tablets to help with hormonal imbalance impacting skin, including sensitivity, dehydration (38%)
- Skinboosters to help rehydrate your skin and improve skin glow (such as Profhilo®/BELOTERO® Revive/skin boosters) (28%)
- Anti-wrinkle injections to help slow the signs of ageing and reduce frowning (26%)
- Medical-grade skincare to improve skin quality and texture and pigmentation or onset of acne (22%)
- Dermal fillers to treat lost volume in the face (such as cheek augmentation, tear trough/under eye augmentation or jawline (18%)
- Endolift® laser facelift for skin tightening and reduction of jowls and double chin (14%)
- Microneedling radiofrequency for collagen stimulation, pore refinement, and skin texture improvement (13%)
- High-intensity focused ultrasound to non-surgically tighten face (12%)
Changing the narrative
I strongly believe that the narrative around dealing with perimenopause and menopause symptoms should move towards prevention. This is non-debatable in all other aspects of health or age-related diseases. From my many years of experience treating women with symptoms, I know that many consider their feelings of stress, overwhelm and anxiety to be directly linked to the changes they see within themselves.
If women are more informed about how to prevent signs and symptoms on the skin and body before they occur, facing their fears with information and knowledge, they can improve their relationship with menopause, whether or not they choose to pursue treatments.
Glowing the Distance: Menopause Skin Report shines a light on the symptoms and signs of menopause and helps women be prepared not only for what to expect but how to prevent and treat them. It normalises and explains facial ageing related to the menopause in a digestible manner and showcases the most common concerns, be they physical or psychological. Armed with this knowledge, I hope that more women can shift the common perspective of feeling out of control, or even feeling alone, scared or embarrassed, to a place of understanding and normalising these changes, resulting in both open discussions and making empowered informed choices at every life stage which will ultimately boost their vitality and well-being.
