Symptoms of Menopause

Perimenopause (or early menopause) refers to the years before and after the last menstrual period, when symptoms of menopause come and go, and you notice physical and emotional changes. This can last anywhere from two to 15 years.

Skin

One of the symptoms of menopause is the decline in estrogen levels. This has a dramatic effect on the skin, causing it to lose elasticity all over the body. Skin starts to sag and wrinkle, losing its natural moisture and texture. This is a direct result of a reduction in estrogen, as the capillaries, connective tissue, glands and hair follicles in the skin are all affected by this hormone. The skin starts to become thinner and the layer of fat cells just under the skin diminishes.

Collagen in the skin is destroyed by ultraviolet light and the skin becomes more sensitive to the sun as it ages. Melanocytes in the skin are lost and so the ability to make pigment and produce a tan diminishes. This makes the skin more likely to bum and increases the risk of permanent damage and skin cancer.

Because the natural moisture in the skin is reduced, women who suffer from psoriasis or eczema may find that their condition becomes worse. A few women in perimenopause experience problems with pimples or acne as their estrogen levels drop and testosterone causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oily secretions.

Hair

One of the more noticeable symptoms of menopause is that hair may fall out and it may also grow in unusual places. As with glands in the skin, falling estrogen levels mean less oil is produced in the scalp and hair can become dry and brittle. The hair breaks more easily and seems to be falling out. Eventually some hair follicles cease to function and naturally lost hair is not replaced. This is due to the action of the hormone testosterone circulating without estrogen.

Some women notice the hair thinning all over the scalp; this may be due to a hereditary condition known as androgenic alopecia. In a few women, testosterone also causes more hair to grow, but not usually where they want it. This phenomenon is known as hirsutism, and hair can start to grow on the face, chest and abdomen.