How To Preserve Hair, Skin and Nails During Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a time when low estrogen can cause changes to your skin, hair and nails; namely:

• Losing, thinning and drying out of your skin
• Weakening of the nails and
• Hair loss
• Increased skin sensitivity and
• Teenage-like acne. 

Perimenopause can also be a time associated with the onset of allergies, so if you all of a sudden start to get eczema that is why. This is caused by the changing of the integrity of your immune system from being in a proinflammatory perimenopausal state from changing hormone levels.  It helps to remember that as you move into menopause you will start to grow out of these allergies.

How To Look After Your Skin, Nails and Hair Through Perimenopause?

1. Collagen Supplement for Perimenopause

If you're going through perimenopause, take a collagen supplement daily, to help with:

• Rejuvenating skin, hair and nails
• Preserving the youthful appearance of your skin.  Studies have shown that taking collagen peptides will support skin elasticity, hydration levels, and promote youthful texture.
• Build tissue and maintain joint health.  Studies show that supplementing with collagen can be useful for treating osteoarthritis and other joint disorders.
• Maintain muscle mass.
• Improve gut health - it can help repair and grow muscle tissue in your gut lining.  Find out here how to work on your gut health.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein which is found in the skin, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue of all living animals and most abundant in mammals. It makes the foundations of our bodies, it’s what holds us together.

Collagen fibres are in connective tissue that are like pieces of string of all different shapes and sizes that connect our bones together. They stabilise our joints or hold the ends of two bones together. They protect our joints and make sure everything works as it should.

The collagen in our skin is what gives it volume and a youthful appearance, as we age the collagen in our skin breaks down and that’s when we start to see wrinkles and fine lines.

When do we start losing Collagen?

It’s not clear when we start losing collagen. Some studies suggest that we start losing 1% of collagen a year from the age of 20. This increases in perimenopause and menopause with the falling of oestrogen levels and as part of the natural ageing process. 

Foods That Contain Collagen

We don’t eat as much collagen in our diets anymore because we tend not to eat nose to tail.

To help maintain a healthy, strong and mobile body, we need adequate amounts of collagen in our daily diet, so make sure you eat the skin, tendons and connective tissue from good animal sources such as:

• Chicken - don’t just eat the breast, try the thighs, skin, legs and wings
• Fish and shellfish - eat the meat and the skin
• Bone broth
• Supplement with hydrolysed collagen peptides supplement. I would suggest finding a supplement that is at least 3g of Collagen per serve (the SheBANG! Peri Chai Latte contains your daily requirement of Collagen).

Ange's Skin Care Recommendations (Unsponsored)

It might be a time that your skin care products aren’t working for you anymore. I’ve always had sensitive skin and the things I didn’t react to are starting to make my skin angry. I’ve started using a very simple moisturiser. I wanted to share with you what's working for me as it might help you. It’s super cheap and it works wonders for me. 

In my research I have also come across the Dr Ginni Mansberg range which is backed by science and designed for women in their peri years. She’s the author of The M Word “How to thrive in Menopause” which is a great book and I highly recommend if you are wanting to learn more about the changes your body is going through. 

When to See a Dermatologist

I would also suggest an appointment with a dermatologist if you are going through eczema or acne or any other skin conditions that you are concerned about.

Perimenopausal Skin, Hair and Nails: In Summary 

Skin, nail and hair changes are normal through your peri years. Try a collagen supplement, 3g daily and see the difference in a few months (the Peri Chai Latte has all you need). If you have skin conditions that you are concerned about, book an appointment with a dermatologist. If you have heavy hair loss read more about it here.

We'd love to hear what you have worked through and what has worked for you - comment below.

Resources

Caring for your skin in menopause

Hormone Repair Manual, Lara Briden ND

The M Word, How to Thrive in Menopause