What's Happening to My Skin? A Dermatologist Explains Menopause Skin

In the first five years after menopause, women lose approximately 30% of their skin collagen. That's not a typo. Thirty per cent. Oestrogen is one of the most powerful drivers of collagen production, skin hydration, and wound healing — and when it declines, the effects are visible.

Here's what happens and why.

Dryness: Oestrogen stimulates the production of natural oils and hyaluronic acid in the skin. As it drops, skin becomes drier, thinner, and more prone to irritation. Your existing moisturiser may no longer be enough.

Loss of firmness: Collagen and elastin production slow dramatically. The skin becomes less resilient, and gravity does the rest. This isn't vanity — it's structural biology.

Increased sensitivity: The skin barrier weakens during menopause, making it more reactive to products, environmental stressors, and sun damage.

What to do: Layer hydration. Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the skin — look for products with multiple molecular weights. Support collagen from the inside (marine collagen peptides have the best evidence) and outside (retinoids, vitamin C, peptide serums). Protect relentlessly — SPF 50 every day, no exceptions. And simplify your routine — menopausal skin often does better with fewer, better products than a 12-step regimen.