Heal Dry Skin

Menopause and Dry Skin

By Vick Salemi

While it may seem like your skin is getting drier as you age, what you may not know is that menopause is one of the reasons for this scaling skin. "During menopause the levels of estrogen diminish. Consequently other hormones are thrown out of balance and the skin begins to thin. The oil glands begins to shrink and thus produce less oil," explains Jerome Z. Litt , M.D., and author of 'Your Skin from A to Z'. While there's no ability to halt Mother Nature in her tracks, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the menopausal dry skin.

Oh, Omega-3's

Think salmon, walnuts and fortified eggs and you're thinking along the lines of essential fatty acids which help produce your skin's oil barrier. These omega-3's help keep the skin hydrated. The consequences of not enriching your diets with these fats may leave your skin dry and itchy. Other examples of omega-3's are also found in soy, flax, safflower oil and sardines.


Showers Savers

Hot showers rob the skin of moisture, according to Dr. Robin Ashinoff, medical director of dermatologic, mohs and laser surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. "Long showers that are too warm can rid the skin of its natural protective oils." As for the doctor's advice? Try short lukewarm to cool showers. "When you get out of the shower, gently pat dry your skin and then moisturize right away."


Moisturize Mania

"As estrogen levels drop, we produce less sebum and other lubricants on the skin," says Dr. Ashinoff. This is why external moisturizers are so important. The best time to moisturize is right after a shower when the skin is moist. This way, the moisturizer will adhere to the skin. "If you live in a dry climate or the ambient humidity is low, then two times daily is better."


Heavenly Humidifiers

Want to keep moisture in the air especially when your skin is dry? Experts recommend getting a humidifier. "A humidifier, set at roughly forty percent, keeps enough water vapor in the ambient surroundings to prevent excess evaporation from the skin surface. When we lose water from our skin, as we do when the relative humidity is low, our tissues dry up and we get itchy, dehydrated and the skin becomes less elastic," explains Litt.

Keith Goldstein, Getty Images

Gentle Soap

Sure, scented soaps may smell pretty but, to alleviate dry skin you should focus on gentle non-scented soap. Mild cleaners are very helpful for people with dry skin, according to Robert T. Brodell, M.D. and professor of Internal Medicine, Dermatology Section, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. "Harsher soaps take the oil out of the skin, hence it feels dryer." He adds, "Frequent bathing is also an aggravating factor by washing oil out of the skin. One might think frequent exposure to moisture would moisturize but, it's quite the opposite!"


Sunscreen Smarts

By now we've heard how important it is to wear sunscreen year-round but, when it comes to dry skin it's even more important to slather it on. "Sunscreen is important year round because both UVB and UVA cause damage. UVA is present year-round and causes immunosuppression as well as penetrating more deeply into the skin," says Dr. Ashinoff. She recommends sunscreen with at least SPF 15, but 30 or higher is better. "Look for ingredients like mexoryl which is a stabilized UVA protectant."


Water Works

"Drinking water is really the best way to hydrate the skin," says Dr. Arielle Kauvar, associate professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. By now we know the importance of drinking six to eight glasses each day, as the benefits are plentiful. When skin cells are hydrated you may even feel like your face emanates a healthy glow. Keep in mind different conditions result in different amounts of water consumption: the more you exercise the more you should drink up. Plus, hot or humid weather requires the additional intake of water.


Breathable Fabrics

Experts recommend wearing loose fabrics, like cotton or silk, over tighter ones, like polyester. "Choose clothing made of soft, smooth, breathable fabrics. Avoid wearing clothing made of rough fabric such as wool and tight-fitting clothing which can irritate your skin and make it itch," says Dr. Kauvar. Actually, it's a vicious cycle says Dr. Brodell. "Wool often makes people itch. Rubbing and scratching inflames the skin and can lead to eczema, which provokes more itching and scratching." He recommends over the counter topical steroid like hydrocortisone 1 percent cream for itching dry skin. If you're not improving he recommends seeing your doctor.


The Oil Factor

Vegetable, canola and olive oil, oh my! In addition to the benefit of helping alleviate dry skin the various oils can help your heart as well. "Olive oil has many health benefits including lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol," says Dr. Kauvar. "Many of olive oil's health benefits may come from the many plant compounds it contains. These plant compounds possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that also promote heart health and protect against cancer."