How Perimenopause Affects Skin Health and Remedies

Kylie Han

As hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, your skin can change. Here’s what to look out for and how to manage these symptoms.

Published:

Jun 5, 2025

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Perimenopause–the transitional stage when your body gradually stops producing eggs–can come with a range of symptoms. They may include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and changes in skin health. During this natural life stage, hormones begin to fluctuate and estrogen levels decline, which can throw your body off balance and lead to a variety of symptoms, including those affecting your skin. Here are the most common skin changes during perimenopause and ways to address them.

Hormonal shifts that impact skin

Estrogen is an important sex hormone that supports the reproductive system, maintains cardiovascular and bone health, and also plays a key role in skin health. It helps the skin produce natural oils, retain moisture, and stimulate collagen production (1). Here’s how your skin is affected when estrogen declines:

Dry and itchy skin: As your estrogen levels drop, your ovaries gradually release less estrogen and eventually stop producing eggs altogether. This may lead to drier and itchy skin due to reduced moisture retention.
Decline in collagen production: Collagen production drops rapidly– by 30% during the first five years of menopause–and continues to decline by about 2% annually for the next 20 years (2). Collagen provides structure and plumpness to the skin. When collagen levels fall, wrinkles and sagging become more noticeable.
Adult acne: Lower estrogen levels can result in clogged pores and hormonal acne. Hot flashes may cause redness and discoloration, which can worsen breakouts.
Increased risk of skin cancer: Aging and hormonal changes can make the skin more prone to pre-cancerous growths and skin cancer.
Unwanted hair growth: While estrogen declines, androgen (testosterone) levels remain relatively stable during menopause. The imbalance may cause facial hair growth on the chin, jawline and upper lip, along with hair thinning and hair loss on the scalp. It may be helpful to see a dermatologist to find treatments to remove unwanted hair growth such as waxing or laser hair removal.
Easier bruising: Aging skin becomes thinner and more fragile due to slower cell turnover, collagen loss, and decreased fat beneath the skin. This can make the skin more prone to bruising.
Sensitive and irritated skin: As skin becomes more sensitive as you age, conditions like eczema or rosacea may worsen. Dark spots, often the result of sun damage, may also become more visible.

>>MORE: Estrogen and Perimenopause

Ways to remedy and manage skin health

Hormone replacement therapy: HRT can help treat and relieve menopause symptoms by stabilizing hormone levels. However, research on its specific impact on skin health is limited.
Moisturizers: Moisturizers and products containing hyaluronic acid can help relieve dryness and itchiness. Retinol and peptides can support collagen production.
Sun protection: UV ray exposure over time breaks down the elastin, the protein responsible for the skin’s elasticity and resilience. Wearing SPF can help protect elasticity and prevent wrinkles.
Skin cancer screenings: Since the risk of skin cancer increases with age, skin cancer screenings, skin checks, and monitoring for changes are essential.
Healthy lifestyle habits: Eating healthy fats, staying hydrated, prioritizing sleep, limiting consumption of added sugars, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine, and avoiding smoking all contribute to better skin health.

How perimenopause affects skin health and remedies: the bottom line

During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations can lead to hot flashes, night sweats, sleep issues, vaginal dryness, and changes to skin health. While aging skin is natural, there are ways to slow the process and maintain healthy skin. Daily SPF use, hydrating products, fragrance-free cleansers and ingredients like glycerin, retinoids, vitamin C, and glycolic, and lactic acid can make a difference (3). A healthy lifestyle and visits to a dermatologist can also support your skin during this transition. Skin changes are a normal part of perimenopause and aging–but by understanding why these changes are happening and finding the best treatment that works for you, they’re completely manageable

About the author

Kylie Han is a writer from Oakland, California. She's the SEO Manager at The Infatuation, where she loves to support the work of writers and highlight local restaurants. She is also a contributing writer at The Infatuation and is excited to get involved in reproductive health, a passion of hers.

Sources

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‍Our content is developed with a commitment to high editorial standards and reliability. We prioritize referencing reputable sources and sharing where our insights come from. The Oova Blog is intended for informational purposes only and is never a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before making any health decisions.

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