Menopausal Acne

Most women expect that during menopause, they will have hot flashes and night sweats and weight gain, but what many women don’t expect is the menopause acne that is experienced. Unfortunately, menopausal acne is very common, and it occurs in menopausal women for the same reason it does in pregnant women or pubescent teens—drastic changes in hormones.

While all menopausal acne can’t be avoided, there are ways to limit the amount of acne in menopause that is experienced. The first thing to do in prevention is to alter your diet. To lessen acne in menopause, you should increase your calcium and fiber intake, as well as increase the amount of water you drink every day. You will also want to limit the amount of fatty foods, chocolate, sugar and caffeine you ingest, as these can help trigger menopausal acne. Another way to help avoid menopausal acne is to switch your face cleaning regimen. Instead of using simple cleaners, you will want to use ones that are made for prevention of acne. You can also switch up your makeup to use types that help prevent acne as well.

Acne and menopause can be very irritating for many women, but menopausal acne caused by hormones can be limited. By making sure you get the right amount of the proper foods, by taking hormone and possibly vitamin supplements, and by using acne prevention methods, you can make menopause and acne that goes with it a little more bearable. Women in post menopause experiencing acne often use moisturizers that contain acne fighting properties as well. Since hormones continue to stay out of whack, often even with replacement hormone therapies, menopausal acne can often continue into the postmenopausal years. This doesn’t have to mean that menopausal acne will take over your life, however. Just as with the weight gain and hot flashes, there are natural and medicinal remedies for every menopause-induced symptom. By keeping your face clean and regulating hormone levels as best you can, you can reduce the outbreaks of menopausal acne. Watching what you eat and drink, and using creams or lotions that aid in the prevention of menopausal acne can also help.

For women who watch their diets and use over the counter medicines to no avail, there are often prescription medications that can be taken to battle menopausal acne. Some are topical creams, while others are oral medications. There are many side effects of menopause, but taking precautions and using medicines or natural remedies can help relieve you of at least some of the difficulties.