Premenopause: why do I have irritated skin?

It’s hard to believe that you’re only 41 and the instigator of your recent skin battles might be menopause. Well, believe it! It’s not actually menopause, that doesn’t occur until you have been period-free for one solid year, but the hormonal imbalances that accompany this change of life can begin up to 10 years before menopausal onset. This time is called premenopause, and the line between it and perimenopause is often blurred.

You probably wouldn’t have even notice your hormonal imbalances if it hadn’t been for the appearance of symptoms like irritated skin. Most likely the reason has to do with a deficiency of estrogen in your body. Estrogen is in charge of many duties in your body, among them stimulating the generation of skin collagen in your body.

Collagen is a major proponent of skin’s firmness as well as moisture. It also protects your skin from environmental pollutants. In order to maintain healthy skin, there are several habits that make a big difference. If you are in violation of the rules listed below, you may be your skin’s own worst enemy.

Keep your collagen

Get out of the sun.

Surely by now you would have realized that your natural skin tone looks better on you anyway? Anyway, the sun’s rays wreak particular havoc on your dermis (the middle layer of skin) and this happens to be the house of collagen.

Hydrate

Water can help replenish the moisture your skin loses throughout the day to environmental thieves. It can help collagen stay strong. Remember, alcohol dehydrates your body.

Don’t smoke.

Smoking prevents the synthesis of collagen. Collagen keeps skin firm, a.k.a. wrinkle-free. Have you ever noticed how wrinkly long-time smokers are? Sorry Aunt Mildred!

Eat more fish

Of course a balanced, varied diet is necessary to maintain overall health, but fish is particularly good for the promotion of collagen because it possesses a healthy dose of protein, which makes up collagen.

Eat citrus

Vitamin C is one of the most widely used anti-aging products in the world. The reason? Vitamin C is both an antioxidant, protecting your skin from free radicals in the environment, and stimulant of the production of collagen.

For more information

Talk with your doctor about testing your hormone levels to confirm you are entering premenopause. If in fact you are, you will also need to know what your levels are so you can start the balancing act that will last for about the next quarter of a century. Don’t worry, it will be fun! Follow this link to read about irritated skin in menopause phase.