Menopause and Acne: The Dreaded Combination

There is no denying the fact that menopause is a package deal. A large number of altogether unpleasant symptoms are associated with it. Just as menopause itself is inevitable, so are the symptoms. If you are a woman, you pretty much have to resign yourself to dealing with them. Some of them are certainly worse than others. By and large, most women view hot flashes and night sweats as the worst. This is particularly true of the former.

After all, hot flashes can happen anywhere. They are not only highly uncomfortable but they can be quite embarrassing as well. Mood swings are difficult to deal with as well, and the chance of hair loss or thinning is extremely debilitating. The key here is that most of these symptoms cannot be buried or hidden. The same holds true with menopause and acne. As if we as women do not have enough to deal with when we are menopausal, we have to suffer through skin conditions as well. For those of us who hoped that we became free from acne when we left our teenage years behind us, we definitely have another thing coming.

All told, approximately ten percent of menopausal women will have to deal with acne. This does not mean having to deal with an occasional zit or pimple either. That would be okay – unpleasant but okay. No, acne is actually a skin condition. People who suffer from it generally wish they only had to deal with an infrequent zit or an uncommon crop of blackheads. Menopausal women who experience acne may actually suffer from it even worse than they did as teenagers. After all, hormones play a big part in causing acne, no matter how old you are. They are behind teenage acne and adult acne.

Consider the implications: during menopause, a woman's hormones come into play more than they do at any time in her life. For instance, they go crazy during a woman's adolescence, when she first begins menstruation, and acne is common at that time. For further instance, a woman's hormones are also in flux during pregnancy. Acne is a frequent occurrence then as well. During menopause, however, rather than making more estrogen, a woman's body makes less. The imbalance goes in the other direction and it rampages far more than it does at any other time. Naturally, for ten percent of menopausal woman, the ultimate results are painful acne outbreaks.

The fundamentals of menopausal acne revolve around your sebaceous glands. Their sole purpose is to produce oil for your skin, which is also known as sebum. The flux of your hormones during menopause triggers these glands to produce more sebum. Along with dead skin cells, dirt, debris, et cetera, they clog your pores, ultimately resulting in blemishes.

The good news is that it is fairly simple to combat menopausal acne. You should look for a good skin care regimen, one which is designed to keep your skin moisturized and soothed without making it more oily. Dietary changes are also a good idea. You should gravitate towards foods which are high in calcium and fiber, while moderating your intake of fat and carbohydrates. Taking supplements and vitamins can also be extremely helpful, specifically vitamins B and C.