Skin Elasticity After Menopause

If you're menopausal you've probably noticed a lot of changes going on both inside and out. A few of these are welcome, but many are not. One thing you may have noticed is drier, more wrinkled skin that doesn't seem to "bounce" back into shape as it once did. This is because menopause causes decreased hormone production affecting estrogen in particular. This decrease in estrogen is directly related to the look and feel of your skin, as well as its elasticity.

What is Elasticity?

The ability of the skin to "bounce" back is known as elasticity. The elasticity or pliability of the skin is attributed to two proteins called collagen and elastin within the dermis, or lower layer of the skin. These two substances form fibers that hold skin together and give it flexibility.

Menopause Effects

When you reach menopause your production of reproductive hormones decreases. Loss of estrogen is directly related to loss of skin elasticity. As Women's Health America explains it, "Estrogen also appears to exert strong influence on aging of the skin. Estrogen receptors are located in the skin, and studies show that estrogen increases the activity of skin fibroblasts, cells that produce collagen. Collagen is the connective tissue that adds ''plumpness'' to skin, giving it structure, tone, and thickness. It helps keep moisture in the skin by ensuring the production of hyaluronic acid and acid mucopolysaccharides."

Manifestations

Loss of elasticity after menopause has many manifestations. You may notice, for instance, that when you pinch the skin of the upper side of your hand or your cheek that the skin does not regain its shape immediately. You may also observe changes in your skin such as more wrinkles and a droopy appearance. Your skin may look thinner due to declining estrogen levels.

Hormone Replacement

Research indicates that hormone replacement therapy can help keep maintain elasticity of skin. M.G. Shah and H.I. Maibach of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine have observed that "estrogen appears to aid in the prevention of skin aging in several ways. This reproductive hormone prevents a decrease in skin collagen in postmenopausal women; topical and systemic estrogen therapy can increase the skin collagen content and therefore maintain skin thickness. In addition, estrogen maintains skin moisture by increasing acid mucopolysaccharides and hyaluronic acid in the skin and possibly maintaining stratum corneum barrier function. Sebum levels are higher in postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy. Skin wrinkling also may benefit from estrogen as a result of the effects of the hormone on the elastic fibers and collagen."

Prevention/Solution

Overwhelmingly, the solution to loss of elasticity after menopause is replenishment of the hormone estrogen. This can be accomplished by oral ingestion or topically via low-dose estrogen creams. Research shows an average of 48 percent more collagen in the skin of women who undergo estrogen therapy as compared with that of women who do not.

If you don't want to use hormone replacements, there is evidence that the dietary supplement Lutein provides benefits to aging skin such as increased hydration, elasticity and lipid replenishment. Other more natural means of maintaining the skin's elasticity include consuming Omega 3 fatty acids, Wakame seaweed and maintaining a diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in animal products such as beef and milk.