MENOPAUSE AND HORMONES – part 2

 

CAUSES AND TRIGGERS – HORMONES

 Hormone Imbalance

Too little or too many hormones in the body can cause and imbalance which can be experienced at different times in a person’s life, e.g.  Puberty, Pregnancy and Menopause.

 

Hormonal health depends on our hormones being in balance.  Hormones involved are:  

  • Oestrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Androgens

ENDOCRENE SYSTEM

The glands of the endocrine system include:

  • While some people don’t consider it a gland, the hypothalamus produces multiple hormones that control the pituitary gland. It’s also involved in regulating many functions, including sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, and appetite. It can also regulate the function of other endocrine glands.
  • The pituitary gland is located below the hypothalamus. The hormones it produces affect growth and reproduction. They can also control the function of other endocrine glands.
  • This gland is found in the middle of your brain. It’s important for your sleep-wake cycles.
  • The thyroid gland is located in the front part of your neck. It’s very important for metabolism.
  • Parathyroid – Also located in the front of your neck, the parathyroid gland is important for maintaining control of calcium levels in your bones and blood.
  • Located in the upper torso, the thymus is active until puberty and produces hormones important for the development of a type of white blood cell called a T cell.
  • One adrenal gland can be found on top of each kidney. These glands produce hormones important for regulating functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and stress response.
  • The pancreas is located in your abdomen behind your stomach. Its endocrine function involves controlling blood sugar levels.
  • Oestrogen is one of the main female sex hormones. While both women and men produce oestrogen, it plays a bigger role in women’s bodies. Oestrogen is produced by your hormonal (endocrine) system and moves through the bloodstream.
  • Progesterone is a female sex hormone. It’s produced mainly in the ovaries following ovulation each month. It’s a crucial part of the menstrual cycle and maintenance of pregnancy. Progesterone helps to regulate your cycle. But its main job is to get your uterus ready for pregnancy
  • Luteinising Hormone (LH) – LH is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. It plays an important role in sexual development and functioning. In women, LH helps control the menstrual cycle and it triggers the release of an egg from the ovary

 

EFFECTS OF OESTROGEN ON THE SKIN

 It maintains hydration and increase glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

  • Increases collagen production
  • Maintains epidermal thickness
  • Maintains proper blood flow to skin
  • Increases skin pigmentation
  • Regulates hair anagen-telogen phase

 

Menopause

  • Menopause significantly decreases oestrogen levels
  • Primary reason why women in menopause can see a re-emergence of hormonal acne after decades of clear skin.
  • Average age is 51
  • Due to oestradiol decline there is a decrease in the following:
    • Collagen and elastin
    • Reduced moisture with less surface lipids
    • Delayed wound healing
    • Decrease in sebaceous activity- dryness all over due to lower oestrogen

 

More changes to note during menopause

 The short-term effects can be a problematic, however many women seek help in the form of HRT.  There are different types of HRT to choose from.  It can also help with other symptoms of menopause such as sweats, mood swings and osteoporosis. Foods like soya, miso, tofu, celery and seeds as well as fish, nuts can be beneficial.

 

Women in menopause are most likely to spot acne blemishes near their chin, jaw, and mouth, but pimples can also appear on the chest and back.

 

During the period leading up to menopause known as perimenopause, levels of the female hormones, including oestrogen, drop. Androgen levels, the male sex hormones that each woman has, remain constant. This situation in effect causes the body to experience a relative increase in the effect of these “male” hormones.

 

One of the strongest of the androgens, testosterone, often triggers skin conditions that result in menopausal acne. As testosterone levels rise, the skin’s sebaceous glands go into overdrive, producing excess sebum, an oily substance that can block pores. The problem is further    exacerbated by the slowed-down cell regeneration in older skin. As excess skin cells build up, they block pores already clogged with sebum, resulting in inflammation and infection. The body’s immune response causes a build-up of white blood cells in the infected area, and the    result is acne.

 

Understand you monthly cycle:

 Monthly Cycle

  • Day 1-14 Oestrogen phase
  • Day 14-28 Luteal phase (LH) or progesterone phase
  • Day 12 Oestrogen peak. LH release of the egg
  • Start of ovulation

 

What Do You See?

  • Barrier effected post ovulation – Oestrogen low
  • Skin sensitivity (Days 2-12) – do not book any waxing or Microneedling
  • Dry skin – Oestrogen lowest at the beginning of the cycle
  • Oily skin during ovulation – Oestrogen at its highest. Collagen production and quality decreases

 

 

Next week we will talk more on the affect of hormones on our skin

 

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