Perimenopause Skin Care
Women's HealthMenopause

How to Care for Your Skin as You Approach Menopause

How to Care for Your Skin as You Approach Menopause
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Updated on March 13, 2026
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Hormone fluctuations as you approach menopause can wreak havoc on skin, leading to dryness, uneven skin tone and texture, and sensitivity to harmful ultraviolet rays. Here’s how to revamp your routine during this life stage.

How Menopause Affects Your Skin

As you approach menopause, you might expect some typical symptoms, like hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, and irritability. But your skin undergoes changes, too.

Your dermis, or the thickest layer of your skin, is sensitive to declining estrogen levels that happen during perimenopause.

Estrogen helps your skin retain water and promotes collagen production, a protein that gives your skin volume and tightness. Your vulva and vagina may begin to atrophy and the skin become dry and itchy, symptoms of a condition called genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

As estrogen drops, your skin loses some of its ability to stay hydrated and collagen production decreases. You may notice:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Sagging skin
  • Slower wound healing
  • Increased skin sensitivity and irritation
  • Skin dryness
  • Thinning skin

All of these changes can make it tough to know how to adjust your skin-care routine. But there are some things you can do to maintain your skin health and appearance during this time of life.

Cleanse and Hydrate

Because dry skin is one of the most common complaints, you’ll want to switch to more moisturizing products.

Look for cleansers and moisturizers for your face and body that appear creamy. Avoid foam and gel or those with active ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, which can be drying, says Lauren Fine, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, Illinois.

While some high-priced products are worth splurging on, Dr. Fine recommends looking for the following ingredients in tried-and-true drugstore brands:

  • Ceramides smooth and soften the skin by filling in gaps between skin cells, helping it retain moisture. CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream combines ceramides with peptides, helping to renew skin overnight.
  • Glycerin attracts water to the skin, helping to increase its water content. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream contains glycerin and is recommended for very dry, sensitive skin.
  • Hyaluronic acid is naturally found on your skin and also helps draw moisture from the environment. Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Night Moisturizer is formulated with hyaluronic acid for normal, oily, and dry skin.

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Signs of sun damage start to appear as you approach menopause. You may notice age spots and areas of darker skin on your face, hands, chest, or neck.

To protect your skin, apply sunscreen everyday before going outdoors. This can help fade and prevent age spots, prevent further skin thinning, reduce visible lines, and prevent new wrinkles. It also reduces your risk of getting skin cancer.

Look for a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, says Keira Barr, MD, board-certified dermatologist and menopause specialist and the creator of Somatic Skincare. These provide both UVB and UVA protection.

Also, a big part of how much protection your sunscreen offers is how often you reapply, says Dr. Barr. “When you are outdoors for more than two hours, have been sweating profusely, or toweled off after swimming, reapply sunscreen,” she says.

Apply Anti-Aging Products

Along with giving your skin extra support to counteract declining estrogen levels, now is also a good time to use skin renewing products that can help reverse some signs of aging.

Retinol

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative available as a prescription or over the counter. It promotes cellular turnover to reveal a fresh, brighter layer of skin as well as an increase in skin thickness, says Fine. Retinol can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by slowing the breakdown of collagen.

Barr recommends using a topical retinoid as part of your nightly skin-care routine. Because retinoids are inherently drying and can cause irritation for some people, start by applying a pea-size amount on your skin once or twice a week, then slowly increasing the frequency.

Differin gel is an effective drug store brand also used for acne treatment. Products like Senté Even Tone Retinol Cream have been specifically formulated with sensitive skin in mind, says Fine.

Vitamin C

Topical antioxidants, like vitamin C, help to counteract free radicals that cause oxidative stress and skin damage. They can help brighten and soften your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C also helps stimulate collagen production, which can give your skin more structure and support and increase plumpness.

Fine recommends Alastin Skincare's C-RADICAL Defense Antioxidant Serum and Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30 Percent. Lower-cost options are also effective, which can be a good alternative, since vitamin C products have a limited shelf life.

Lifestyle Changes

Healthy skin during menopause is about more than what you put on your face; it's also a reflection of your overall health.

The following lifestyle changes can help you manage symptoms of menopause and support healthy skin as you age:

  • Avoid smoking
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Get regular physical activity
  • Avoid triggers, like alcohol and caffeine
  • Manage stress
  • Get enough sleep

Talk to Your Ob-Gyn About Hormonal Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or menopause hormone therapy, is a treatment used to replace estrogen after menopause. It helps treat common menopause symptoms, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Research shows that hormone therapy may also offer skin benefits, like improving thickness, elasticity, and collagen production.

HRT is only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia (pain with sexual activity), and bone loss. Topical low‐dose vaginal estrogen can help treat genitourinary symptoms.

 While it may have potential benefits for your skin, it also carries risks for certain groups. Because of this, you should discuss hormone therapy with your doctor to determine whether it's right for you.

When to See a Dermatologist

If skin-care techniques and lifestyle changes don't work or you're concerned about age spots, rashes that don't go away, or slow healing wounds, contact a dermatologist. They can examine your skin for signs of skin cancer and suggest treatment options.

The Takeaway

  • A decline in estrogen levels during perimenopause causes a range of symptoms, including changes in your skin. You may notice signs of skin aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, loss of elasticity, and dryness.
  • Skin-care techniques like cleansing and hydrating, using sun protection, and applying vitamin C and retinol serums can help you maintain healthy skin during the menopause transition.
  • Lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and getting regular physical activity can also help reduce signs of skin aging.
  • While hormone therapy for menopause symptoms may help improve your skin, it's currently not approved by the FDA to treat estrogen-related skin changes.
  • Contact a dermatologist if skin-care techniques aren't helping or you're concerned about rashes, slow healing wounds, or other skin conditions.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Menopause. Cleveland Clinic. June 24, 2024.
  2. Viscomi B et al. Managing Menopausal Skin Changes: A Narrative Review of Skin Quality Changes, Their Aesthetic Impact, and the Actual Role of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Improvement. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. August 23, 2025.
  3. Harwood A et al. Moisturizers. StatPearls. February 12, 2024.
  4. Caring for Your Skin in Menopause. American Academy of Dermatology Association. November 24, 2025.
  5. The Best Moisturizer for Your Dry Skin? Here’s What to Look For and How to Use It. Cleveland Clinic. December 12, 2023.
  6. Best Ingredients and Products for Your Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine. Cleveland Clinic. March 3, 2023.
  7. Menopause. MedlinePlus. January 15, 2026.
  8. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You? Mayo Clinic. April 18, 2025.
  9. Hormone Replacement Therapies Can Help Women With Bothersome Menopausal Symptoms. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. February 13, 2026.
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Dr. Sanober Pezad

Sanober Pezad Doctor, MD

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Sanober Pezad Doctor is a double board-certified dermatologist and internationally recognized leader in integrative and holistic dermatology. She is an anti-aging and regenerative medicine specialist and the founder of AGEnesis and Baby SkinWise.

She earned her MD in dermatology, venereology, and leprology and a diplomate of national board (DNB) in dermatology. She is board certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). She's also a trained clinical homeopath through the Center for Education and Development of Clinical Homeopathy (CEDH).

Sanober is the founder of AGEnesis: The Holistic Aging Blueprint, a science-backed, multidimensional protocol for healthy skin aging, and Baby SkinWise, the world’s first audiovisual skincare guide for parents. She also hosts the YouTube channel "Healthy Aging with Dr. Doctor," where she delivers educational content on evidence-based skincare, hair health, and integrative health practices.

Sanober is a medical school gold medalist and recipient of multiple national and international awards. She is also the chief dermatology medical advisor for emerging clinical research in integrative skin and hair health, with more than 50 published scientific articles.

Sanober is a proactive, compassionate medical practitioner with a thorough understanding of overall mind-body-spiritual wellness. She's also a key advocate for the healthy aging movement. She's a simple mommy to the core and strongly believes "prevention is better than cure." She's on a mission to make you and me into the healthiest version of ourselves.

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Becky Upham has worked throughout the health and wellness world for over 25 years. She's been a race director, a team recruiter for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a salesperson for a major pharmaceutical company, a blogger for Moogfest, a communications manager for Mission Health, a fitness instructor, and a health coach.

Upham majored in English at the University of North Carolina and has a master's in English writing from Hollins University.

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