Debra Brock meets beauty therapist and creator of 001 Skincare, Ada Ooi, to talk skincare in menopause.
DB: I?m in my late forties now and definitely seeing some changes in my skin and hair. What changes can I expect to see as I get closer to menopause"
AO: I work with a lot of clients who are either going through the menopause or who are post-menopausal. You can expect to see your skin get drier, due to decreasing levels of oestrogen. If you think of your skin being like a mattress covered in fish scales, the scales will raise and flake off if your skin is dry. This allows pollutants in and water to evaporate, so your skin can become dryer and more sensitive. There?s also a thinning of the skin, which can lead to increased fragility and things like rosacea. Many women going through menopause are juggling a lot – work, family – and this creates further stress which messes up our hormones, which can lead to other symptoms like hormonal acne, due to increased sebum secretion. This is the point where facials need to come in – people read now that you shouldn?t squeeze spots, but good extraction done by a professional is really helpful.
DB: So if someone comes to you with dry skin, what do you recommend"
AO: I would recommend something to replenish moisture loss; products containing hyaluronic acid are useful. Oil is also very important – it?s all about the oil / water balance. Oil will help retain water in the skin. Oestrogen helps your skin ...