Perimenopause: What 4 Changes Affect Skin and Hair Before Menopause?
If you're between 45 and 50 and your usual moisturiser no longer lasts until midday, the problem isn't the cream. Perimenopause causes four changes in your skin and hair, and each one calls for specific adjustments.
What perimenopause is and when it starts
Perimenopause usually begins about four years before your last period. In Spain, the last period arrives at an average age of 51.
During those years, oestrogen doesn't decline in a straight line. It rises and falls in jumps. That's why there are months when your skin seems like someone else's. Oestrogen doesn't switch off; it flickers, and your skin notices before the calendar does.
Change 1: tightness and dry skin
As oestrogen drops, so do ceramides. The skin barrier lets more water escape. A common sign is itchy legs after a shower.
What to adjust: take lukewarm showers, use a soap-free cleanser and apply a cream with ceramides or urea. Put it on while your skin is still damp. That way it locks in water before it evaporates.
Change 2: collagen loss
You can't see this change yet. After menopause, skin loses around 30% of its collagen within five years. That loss can start earlier.
The best-supported approach is SPF 30 or higher every morning and a retinoid at night. Start with two nights a week. Use a pea-sized amount for your whole face. Retinoids cause irritation and increase sensitivity to the sun.
Change 3: thinner hair
Hair thins along the parting and at the crown. You notice it in your ponytail: the hair tie needs an extra twist.
Before buying any product, ask for a blood test for iron and thyroid. These are two common causes of hair loss, and both are treatable.
Change 4: breakouts along the jawline
This is the change people least expect. Without oestrogen holding them in check, androgens gain ground. The result can be tight skin on the cheeks and breakouts along the jawline at the same time.
The same retinoid you use for collagen helps keep these breakouts down. If hot flushes make your face red, use it less often.
Retinoids, pregnancy and when to see a dermatologist
If you use a retinoid, the pregnancy warning applies to you too. During perimenopause, you still ovulate on and off. Guidelines recommend continuing contraception until you've gone one year without a period if you're over 50, or two years if you're under 50.
See a dermatologist if your hair falls out in clumps or bald patches, if new hair growth appears within a few weeks, or if a mark or spot on your skin changes.
Frequently asked questions
When does perimenopause start?
It usually begins about four years before your last period, which in Spain arrives at an average age of 51.
Why does my skin feel tighter between 45 and 50?
As oestrogen falls, ceramide levels drop and the skin barrier loses more water. Lukewarm showers, a soap-free cleanser and a cream with ceramides or urea applied to damp skin all help.
Can I use a retinoid during perimenopause?
Yes, it's one of the best-supported options. Start with two nights a week and wear sunscreen every day. Because you still ovulate on and off, the pregnancy warning still applies.
What should I do if my hair feels thinner?
Before buying anything, ask for a blood test for iron and thyroid. If your hair is falling out in clumps or bald patches, see a dermatologist.
Informative article written with the help of AI tools from the verified script of the video. The video is in Spanish.