Menopause can change the skin surprisingly quickly. A moisturiser that has worked perfectly well for years may suddenly seem inadequate. Fine lines can become more noticeable, particularly around the eyes and mouth, while the cheeks, jawline and neck may begin to feel softer or less firm. Some women also find that their skin becomes more reactive at precisely the same time.
These changes are not simply a coincidence of getting older. Falling oestrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause affect several of the processes responsible for maintaining skin hydration, thickness, elasticity and repair. Dermatologists recognise dryness, thinning, increased sensitivity, fine wrinkling and loss of firmness among the skin changes associated with menopause.
At The Medispa, we often see women who describe their skin as having changed almost without warning. The important point is that menopausal skin is not one single skin type. One person may primarily be struggling with dryness, while another has good surface hydration but is more concerned about thinning skin and loss of firmness.
Understanding what has actually changed is therefore much more useful than simply looking for a treatment labelled "anti-ageing".
Why Does Your Skin Change During Menopause?
Oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining collagen, elasticity, moisture and skin thickness, so as levels decline during menopause, several changes can appear at the same time.
Collagen is particularly important because it forms part of the structural framework that keeps skin firm and resilient. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that women's skin loses around 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause, followed by a more gradual decline thereafter.
At the same time, the skin can become less effective at retaining moisture. Changes affecting sebum, ceramides and hyaluronic acid can leave it feeling drier, tighter or more sensitive, while reduced collagen and elasticity may make fine lines, crepiness and laxity more noticeable.
Common menopause skin changes include:
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Dryness or dehydration
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Thinner, more delicate-feeling skin
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More visible fine lines
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Reduced firmness and elasticity
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Crepiness around the eyes and neck
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Softer facial contours
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Increased sensitivity or irritation
Previous sun exposure also matters. Years of UV exposure may already have affected collagen and elastin, with hormonal changes making some of these signs of ageing more apparent.
For skin that has become particularly dry or reactive, we would usually begin by reviewing skincare rather than immediately introducing stronger treatments. A gentle cleanser, suitable moisturiser and consistent broad-spectrum SPF provide a good foundation, while products can then be selected according to concerns such as dehydration, sensitivity or loss of firmness.
The SkinCeuticals collection available through The Medispa includes options for hydration and barrier support, ageing and firmness, sensitivity and redness, as well as daily antioxidant protection. Rather than choosing skincare simply because it is labelled for mature skin, the priority should be what your skin actually needs now.
Daily sun protection is particularly important. UV exposure contributes to collagen degradation, so protecting the collagen you already have remains an essential part of looking after menopausal skin.
Can HydraFacial Help Dry Menopausal Skin?
When dehydration, dullness and rough surface texture are the main issues, HydraFacial can be a useful starting point.
HydraFacial combines cleansing and exfoliation with extraction and hydration. At The Medispa, the treatment includes the delivery of hydrating serums, antioxidants and peptides.
For someone whose skin feels lacklustre and dehydrated but who is not yet particularly concerned by laxity, this may be more appropriate than immediately moving towards a stronger collagen-remodelling treatment.
There is an important distinction, however. HydraFacial can improve surface hydration, smoothness and radiance, but it cannot replace collagen that has been lost during menopause or substantially tighten lax skin.
That is where treatment planning begins to change.
What Treatments Can Help Thin, Crepey Menopausal Skin?
Once the concern moves beyond dryness into thinning, fine lines or crepiness, we start thinking more about skin quality and collagen stimulation.
SkinPen Microneedling is one option available at The Medispa. Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries within the skin, triggering a natural repair response and encouraging collagen remodelling.
Rather than adding volume or changing facial proportions, the aim is to improve the quality of the skin itself. This can make it relevant where menopausal skin has become less smooth, fine lines are becoming more apparent or the texture no longer feels as resilient as it once did.
SkinPen is generally approached as a course rather than expecting one treatment to correct years of structural change. How intensive that course should be depends on the starting condition of the skin and what else is contributing to the concern.
For very dry or sensitised skin, however, we may first concentrate on improving skin comfort and barrier health before progressing to treatments that deliberately stimulate a healing response.
Is Profhilo Good for Menopausal Skin?
For women who describe their skin as dry, crepey and less elastic, Profhilo can address a slightly different part of the picture.
Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid treatment used to improve hydration, skin texture, elasticity and laxity. It is not a traditional dermal filler and is not intended to recreate lost facial volume or alter facial features. The Medispa uses it on areas including the face, neck and hands, all of which can show menopausal skin changes.
This distinction is useful in practice.
Someone may look at their face and assume they need filler because everything feels "less firm". On assessment, however, the underlying issue may be predominantly skin quality rather than significant structural volume loss. In that situation, immediately adding volume may not address the concern they are actually noticing.
Profhilo can therefore be considered where hydration and general skin quality are priorities, particularly when the skin has developed a thinner, crepier appearance.
What Can Help Menopausal Skin That Is Starting to Sag?
Loss of firmness requires a different conversation.
If the main concern is that the jawline is becoming softer, the lower face feels less supported or laxity is becoming noticeable around the face and neck, hydration alone is unlikely to produce the desired change.
Sofwave uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production within the skin. The treatment is used at The Medispa for concerns including fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin, with areas including the cheeks, jowls, neck and décolletage treated.
BTL Exilis Elite takes a different approach, combining radiofrequency and ultrasound energy. On the face, it is used to support skin tightening and improvement in wrinkles by affecting collagen within the treated tissue.
Neither treatment is simply a more powerful version of a facial. They are addressing a different layer of the problem.
For milder changes where hydration and texture remain the dominant concerns, we would not necessarily begin here. As laxity becomes more established, however, collagen-focused technology may become more relevant.
Which Menopause Skin Treatment Is Right for Me?
Treatment choice depends on what has changed in the skin, from dehydration and texture to collagen loss and laxity. Here is a simple overview of the options we may consider for menopausal skin.
FAQs About Menopause Skin Changes
Can menopause suddenly make my usual skincare irritate my skin?
Yes. Menopausal skin can become drier and more sensitive, so products that were previously comfortable may begin to sting or cause irritation. It can be worth simplifying your routine and having the skin assessed before introducing additional active ingredients.
Why am I getting spots during menopause when my skin is also dry?
Hormonal changes can contribute to adult acne at the same time as the skin becomes drier. This combination means aggressive acne products designed for oily teenage skin can sometimes be too harsh.
Can menopause make rosacea worse?
Menopausal flushing may exacerbate rosacea in some people. Persistent redness, burning or visible vessels should therefore be assessed rather than treated as ordinary dryness.
Should I change my skincare during perimenopause or wait until menopause?
There is no need to wait for a particular age or stage. Perimenopause can last for several years and skin changes may begin during this transition. Your routine should respond to the condition of your skin rather than the label attached to your hormonal stage.
Can aesthetic treatments stop menopausal skin ageing?
No treatment can stop the biological ageing process or the hormonal changes associated with menopause. What we can do is identify specific concerns such as dehydration, declining skin quality or laxity and choose treatments that address them realistically.
Looking After Your Skin Through Menopause
Menopausal skin does not automatically need more treatments. It needs the right ones.
A good plan begins by separating dehydration from thinning, textural change from volume loss, and early laxity from more established sagging. Once we know which changes are actually present, skincare and in-clinic treatments can be selected far more intelligently.
The full range of advanced skin and device treatments is available at The Medispa clinics in Telford and Shrewsbury. Injectable consultations and treatments are also available through The Medispa in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Solihull.
If your skin has started to feel noticeably different during perimenopause or menopause, a consultation provides an opportunity to assess what has changed and build a treatment and skincare plan around what your skin actually needs.
