The menopause, which typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55[1] marks a huge hormonal shift in the body. This shift doesn’t just impact mood, energy, sleep (to name a few), but it also impacts skin health.
However, despite the fact that every female will experience menopause and perimenopause – the stages leading up to menopause – a high 42% of UK women didn’t know that the stages of the menopause can affect their skin.[2].That’s according to research by Hada Labo Tokyo – the number one skincare brand in Japan. What’s more, previous research[3] by Hada Labo Tokyo has found that around two-thirds of women have no idea as to why skin actually changes with menopause.
GP Dr Nisa Aslam for Hada Labo Tokyo, has a specialsit interest in skin and says: “During the perimenopause, a woman’s ovaries produce less of the hormone oestrogen, causing an imbalance with the hormone progesterone. But, oestrogen helps to maintain skin’s plumpness and moisture. When we lose oestrogen, our skin can dry out, making it look thinner.”
In fact, according to the Hada Labo Tokyo research, 48% of women cite dehydration as a menopausal skin concern, with 45% stating that they’re concerned about breakouts and spots, 36% are concerned about wrinkles and 33% are worried about a lack of glow.
Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “To care for menopausal skin correctly, it’s important to know exactly what’s going on, and the skin care ingredients which can have a positive effect on skin. Nearly half (48%) of women have started to consider their skincare needs for when they are in menopause, so it’s important that we try to increase awareness and ensure more women are prepared for this inevitable stage of life.”
Key changes to menopausal skin
Alongside the decline of oestrogen during perimenopause, levels of collagen and elastin in the skin also take a nosedive.
Dr Nisa Aslam explains: “Collagen gives our skin structure and elasticity, however, our skin’s ability to produce collagen falls by between 1% and 1.5% a year. Women’s skin also loses more collagen during the first five years of menopause.[4] On top of this, collagen levels can be depleted by pollution, smoking, UV radiation and other environmental assaults on the skin.[5]” But, although collagen is a key part of healthy skin, just 19% of women say they fully understand the role that collagen plays in skin health. Elastin, another key protein found in skin and connective tissue, gives skin its flexibility, allowing it to bounce back after being stretched.
Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “When the levels of collagen and elastin plummet, processes which support skin healing and the skin barrier slow down. This can cause skin to become thinner, more prone to dryness, wrinkles and facial discolouration, and it can lead to acne break-outs.”
Staying hydrated
Hydration is a key word when caring for menopausal skin, according to Dr Nisa Aslam.
“Oestrogen helps maintain skin hydration which in turn helps to prevent lines, wrinkles and sagging[6]. So naturally, keeping skin hydrated in other ways can help to fight back against dry skin,” explains Dr Nisa Aslam.
Hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring clear gel that’s made within the body, helps maintain moisture in the skin. A third of our body’s hyaluronic acid is found in the skin but as we age, levels of hyaluronic acid begin to fall.
Dr Nisa Aslam says: “Just 18% of women fully understand the role of hyaluronic acid with regards to the health of their skin yet this hydration hero is essential for plump, youthful skin. Luckily hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient in Hada Labo Tokyo skin care products, so women can continue to show their skin plenty of love.
There’s even science to prove that when applied to the skin, hyaluronic acid can help to reduce wrinkles,[7] enhance hydration, improve firmness and elasticity and it can even help to manage the common skin condition, eczema.
As the research reveals, seven in ten women do think about hydrating their skin, either all the time or often with 55% of women thinking more about skin hydration during the winter and four in ten women thinking about hydrating their skin more during summer.
“But, skin, and particularly menopausal skin, needs hydration support all year round, no matter the season,” says Dr Nisa Aslam.
Hada Labo’s Gold Line: The ultimate in skin hydration
To give menopausal skin the hydration it needs, say hello to Hada Labo Tokyo’s premium range of skincare products: The Gold Line.
“The Gold Line provides super hydration, deep moisturisation and science-led skin support. All the products in this collection now contain SEVEN types of HA,” says Dr Nisa Aslam.
“Sodium Hyaluronate is a water-binding ingredient used for moisturising and hydrating, and it can replace some of the water lost in the epidermis, the top layer of skin; Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate (Super) has a much greater capacity to retain moisture in the epidermis, keeping skin moist for longer periods of time; and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid (Nano) is hyaluronic acid essentially broken into smaller bits which can easily penetrate and help replace some of the water lost in the epidermis,” explains Dr Nisa Aslam.
As well as these, Hada Labo’s Gold Line contains Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (3D), a modified form of hyaluronic acid attached to a polymer structure that keeps it within skin’s uppermost layers longer, creating a “sponge” effect for a fuller, more youthful appearance; Fermented HA: Lactococcus/ Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate, which works by enhancing the skin barrier function, suppressing water evaporating from the inner skin while strengthening the barrier function of the skin; Advanced Hyaluronic Acid: Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, known to moisturise the skin and minimise moisture loss thanks to the power of ions; and Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, a conditioning ingredient for the skin and it helps bond active ingredients into the skin.
The three must-try Hada Labo Tokyo products
To show menopausal skin whose boss, Hada Labo Tokyo’s Premium Range – the Gold Line – contains three key products each targeted at boosting skin’s hydration status to help swerve dryness, lines and wrinkles.
New Premium Hada Labo Tokyo Ultra Firming Booster 7XHA Day Cream-in-Milk is a powerful firming and moisturising cream of milk consistency containing seven types of hyaluronic acid. It’s perfect under make-up and is recommended for dehydrated and dull skin which is losing its firmness.
New Premium Hada Labo Tokyo Extreme Skin Regenerator 7XHA Night Super-Cream is a powerful regenerating and moisturising cream which helps fill lines and wrinkles thanks to seven types of hyaluronic acid including a cutting-edge low molecular weight form. It’s ideal for very dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin.
For exceptionally powerful hydration and moisturisation, New Hada Labo Tokyo Premium Lotion Intense 7XHA Super Deep Hydrator contains the seven types of hyaluronic acid which penetrate deeper into the skin to give a complete, balanced and hydrating solution for radiant, smooth skin.
Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “Although the menopause marks significant changes to skin’s health, it’s important to keep skin hydrated throughout life. The Hada Labo range helps to fight against the impact that hormonal changes can have on skin thanks to the seven types of hyaluronic acid which hydrate skin and help to avoid the lines, sagginess and dryness which can occur due to menopausal changes. These are the products all women need to include in their skin care regime.”
References:
2 – Research of 1,010 British females aged 18-55 conducted by Perspectus Global via an online survey during April 2024.
3 – An omnibus survey of 1003 adults conducted by Perspectus Global in Summer 2023
5 – https://www.oaepublish.com/articles/2347-9264.2020.153
6 – https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/11/1/9
7 – Jegasothy SM, Zabolotniaia V, Bielfeldt S. Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humans. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014 Mar;7(3):27-9. PMID: 24688623; PMCID: PMC3970829.
