What Is Happening to My Skin During Perimenopause?

What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time before menopause. Menopause means you have gone 12 months with no period. During perimenopause, your body starts to change because your ovaries are changing. The ovaries help make eggs and hormones. As you get older, the ovaries do not work the same way every month. Some months they may make more hormones. Some months they may make less. This is why perimenopause can feel confusing. Periods may come early, late, heavy, light, or skip. [1,2]

Two important hormones that change during this time are estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen helps the body with periods, bones, brain, heart, and skin. In the skin, estrogen helps support collagen, moisture, thickness, and firmness. [3,4] Progesterone helps prepare the lining of the uterus after ovulation and supports early pregnancy. When pregnancy does not happen, progesterone drops, and a period can start. [5]

What is happening during perimenopause?

As the body moves through perimenopause and into menopause, it shifts from having more estradiol, also called E2, to having more estrone, also called E1. Estradiol is the stronger estrogen. Estrone is a weaker estrogen and becomes the main estrogen after menopause. This shift may leave the skin with less estrogen support, which can affect collagen, moisture, thickness, and comfort. [4,6]

Progesterone also changes. Progesterone rises after ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg. In perimenopause, ovulation may happen less often. When this happens, progesterone can stay low. Some research shows that progesterone receptors are found in skin cells, but the role of progesterone in skin and hair changes is still less clear than the role of estrogen. [7,8]

Why does the skin feel itchy?

Dry skin can itch. When estrogen is lower, the skin may hold less water and make less collagen. The skin barrier may also feel weaker. When the skin barrier is weak, skin can feel dry, rough, tight, and itchy. [4,9]

This does not mean every itch is from perimenopause. Itching can also come from eczema, allergies, soap, fragrance, medicine, thyroid problems, liver problems, or other health issues. If the itching is strong, new, spreading, painful, or comes with a rash, it is best to talk to a health care provider. [10]

Gentle skin care matters during perimenopause and menopause. At this stage, skin may need more comfort, more moisture, and less harshness. A simple oil-based routine can help support skin that feels dry, tight, or uncomfortable.

Our Calmi body oils were created to support dry, tight, sensitive-feeling skin during life stages when skin may need extra comfort.

Comment below: what has been your biggest skin challenge during perimenopause/menopause?

Numbered citations

[1] Harlow SD, Gass M, Hall JE, et al. Executive Summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop +10. Menopause. 2012.

[2] Hall JE. Endocrinology of the Menopause. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America. 2015.

[3] Chen P, Li B, Ou-Yang L. Role of estrogen receptors in health and disease. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022.

[4] Thornton MJ. Estrogens and aging skin. Dermato-Endocrinology. 2013.

[5] Critchley HOD, Maybin JA, Armstrong GM, Williams ARW. Physiology of the Endometrium and Regulation of Menstruation. Physiological Reviews. 2020.

[6] Davis SR, et al. Estrone Is a Strong Predictor of Circulating Estradiol in Postmenopausal Women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2020.

[7] Song J, et al. Expression of Progesterone Receptor in Human Keratinocytes. Journal of Dermatological Science. 2000.

[8] Pelletier G. Localization of sex steroid receptors in human skin. Histology and Histopathology. 2004.