You wouldn’t think that your whole body would turn inside out just because it’s not producing estrogen anymore. You would be wrong. Menopause, that colorful time of life when everything that you thought you finally had figured out about your body, your mind and your emotions suddenly is moot and might as well be thrown out the window. And while you’re at it, just leave that window open, will ya?. Is it hot in here or is it just me?

And not only does menopause wreak havoc within your body, but those chemical and hormonal adjustments have outward effects as well. We’re talking about your skin and all of the colorful and varied ways it reacts to what’s happening inside you at this very moment.

Just as your skin reacted to your body chemistry when you first began menstruating, it is going to react as you slow and eventually stop menstruating. Not that it will react in the same way (oh contraire!), but it will react in some way. Oh yes, it will.

The range of reactions your skin could have to your menopause is fairly long and seemingly only limited by the amount of spare time your face has to sabotage your social life. You made it through middle school, so you can make it through this.

In addition to the hot flashes, night sweats, heart palpitations, mood swings, insomnia, headaches, you may develop dry skin, adult acne and visible tiny veins. Of course, that is a list of worst case scenario list. You may have none of these symptoms or maybe just one. Most people so not develop the entire list of reactions and just like you and your best friend probably had differing skin issues in middle school, you probably will now too.

The good news is that the skin problems that accompany menopause can give you have a number of excellent options. It also helps that you are a part of an enormous post-World War II generation. Not only do you have staying power, but you also have buying power. And as your generation of pre-menopausal women is searching for skincare products, you are immersed in an industry that has been waiting for years to capitalize on your need to be free of these skin issues.

Drink lots of water. When you think you’ve had enough for the day, have some more. Whether your skin is reacting to the onset of menopause through stepping up oil production or by dehydrating, it’s important to remember to monitor your water intake. The only downside to drinking so much water is the frequency of necessary restroom breaks. Also bear in mind that, no matter how incredible a moisturizer is, it can only trap moisture in your skin. If there is no moisture there in the first place, there is nothing for the moisturizer to protect. Drinking water can also help with the flushing of your system, serving to help clean out your pores.

Of course, adult acne can benefit from increased water intake as well – lesions will heal more quickly and your overall skin health will be better. A good light noncomedogenic moisturizer can pull double duty by helping to lock in moisture and also by not clogging pores. Add an SPF rating of 15 or more and you’ve got a great all-purpose product, no matter how your skin is reacting to menopause.

Regardless of how strange your individual experience with the onset of menopause may seem to you, rest assured that it is completely normal – it’s just part of the process.

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