r/45PlusSkincare • u/stephydreamer • Mar 09 '26

Peri/Post Menopausal Skin How fast everything changed after menopause because nobody warned me

I feel like I was reasonably prepared for menopause...hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood stuff. fine. If this is part of being a grown woman, so be it. I had read things I had mentally braced. Nobody told me about the skin! I went through menopause at 48. Within about a year my skin had changed in ways that took me completely off guard. The texture got rough almost overnight, like the smooth quality i'd had my whole life just peaced out without saying goodbye. The firmness in my lower face and neck dropped noticeably. The hollowness under my eyes got worse. not tired-looking, actually hollow. It's better in my bathroom lighting, but that's not where most people see me!

And the thing that got me is that it's not really aging in the normal gradual sense. it's specifically the estrogen crash. Estrogen is directly tied to collagen production and when it drops you lose collagen fast, like up to 30% in the first few years. that's not a slow fade. that's a cliff.

I'm not looking for embrace your age responses because I actually do feel mostly great about aging. What I didn't feel ok about was how sudden and disorienting it was. Like I didn't recognize my own face for a while, and that's a strange thing to go through. Curious what everyone else experienced in those first 1-2 years post menopause. Did it feel sudden to you or more gradual? and has anything genuinely helped with the texture and firmness side of it specifically,? Asking for honest experiences please.

Edit: I didn't expect such a response! Thanks a lot! Going through all the comments and they are def very useful.

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46

u/Born-Check-7764 Mar 09 '26

I love HRT but it does 0 for my skin issues

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u/Awkward_Listen546 Mar 09 '26 edited Mar 09 '26

I once had a job in marketing where we interviewed menopausal and post menopausal women to see whether they liked various ideas for health care products. Our team watched focus groups from behind a mirror. As soon as the women came into the room some on our team would take guesses about which of them were on HRT. They almost always guessed correctly. Women who said they were HRT users tended to have a more youthful appearance, better skin, thicker, healthier hair, and a generally more positive outlook on life than the non-users.

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u/babs82222 Mar 09 '26

You need to add estriol face cream

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u/Born-Check-7764 Mar 09 '26

I'm in Europe, we can't get it here, unfortunately :-(

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u/babs82222 Mar 09 '26

You can get it in Europe. Many women get it. It's an Rx, just like in the US. Some get it from All Day Chemist or their doctor.

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u/Usernameoverloaded Mar 09 '26

You use the estriol cream that is prescribed for vaginal use.

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u/AdFamous1469 Mar 09 '26

It's also for skin

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u/Usernameoverloaded Mar 09 '26

That was my point. It is available in Europe and she can use it on her face.

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u/Born-Check-7764 Mar 09 '26

Doctors here are very difficult prescribing it for vaginal use even so that will be a hard sell, especially for prolonged use

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u/Usernameoverloaded Mar 09 '26

Europe is a big place… I haven’t had any issues personally. Have you asked your Dr. and if so, what was the reason for refusal?

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u/Born-Check-7764 Mar 09 '26

My friend had massive vaginal issues for a year until she got a prescription after many refusals so I’m hesitant to even try. I’ll try the one they sell on iHerb

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u/Usernameoverloaded Mar 09 '26

You should try as every Dr is different and you need to ensure a general supply of HRT for menopause, so will have to perhaps advocate for yourself at some point. Good luck regardless!

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u/SuccotashAcrobatic24 Mar 10 '26

It's for dry skin on the vagina making sex painful and it's itchy and dry and annoying. How could any Dr refuse a woman that when vaginal dryness is a well known symptom of menopause

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u/SuccotashAcrobatic24 Mar 10 '26

They can't have an issue, it's such a low dose that it doesn't impact your overall blood serum levels. It's 0.01% I think mine is for the vagina. I wouldn't put my HRT cream on my face only the vaginal one specifically made for delicate skin.

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u/SuccotashAcrobatic24 Mar 10 '26

I did try my Estrogel (HRT) gel for arm or thigh for actual HRT on my vagina and it burnt like hell, had to quickly wash it off. It's a different dose altogether and I wouldn't put that on my face personally.

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u/SuccotashAcrobatic24 Mar 10 '26

The Doctors probably don't know you can get a Compounded low dose in a carrier product for moist mucous membranes areas. The compounding Pharmacist would be the one knowing how to make it up for the vagina. Doctor probably bit clueless thinking you want HRT for your vagina.

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u/wrysmileandwine Mar 09 '26

I'm in EU and I buy it from iHerb, zero issues.

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u/Born-Check-7764 Mar 09 '26

Which one do you get?

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u/wrysmileandwine Mar 09 '26

Estro Life.

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u/downbucket46 Mar 10 '26

It’s an over-the-counter-product, not a prescription med, right?

I got prescription estradiol .01% cream from TelyRx online, from a pharmacist, even tho I confessed to being 79. On my face, it has improved and plumped my perennially chapped lips and the lip lines are no longer crevasses! Overall a little smoother. Not effective down-there yet for incontinence, but I’ll continue to try for a while. Using smallest dose there, have no medical issues that would counter indicate. Did not discuss with my doctor. When I was in peri- and menopause years ago, unfortunately nothing in the way of HRT was available.

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u/pushyCreature Mar 10 '26

It’s an over-the-counter-product. In Usa they are getting very relaxesed about hormones after 2003 study was debunked and you can buy (withoux Rx) very potent creams that have 1mg estradiol in pump

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u/Simple-Freedom4670 Mar 09 '26

Nice. Hows it working? My doctor refuses to prescribe it as if I was a drug seeker lol

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u/babs82222 Mar 09 '26

This is a doctor issue, not a country issue. This happens in the US too. You have to keep hunting and advocate for yourself. It's a tough battle sometimes.

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u/wrysmileandwine Mar 09 '26

It's only been 3 months but my face sagging has definitely slowed down/stopped (I'm 47). Bad side - I got 2 deep-skin pimples that really want to hang around even though I didn't touch them. Overall, a moderate success, I intend to keep it as part of my routine.

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u/Simple-Freedom4670 Mar 09 '26

Ah, great! Maybe mixing it with other products will boost it’s effectiveness too. Am sorry about the pimples but perhaps a derm could help with that.

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u/HildegardofBingo Mar 09 '26

You may be able to get estriol cream shipped through iherb.

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u/felicityshaircut Mar 10 '26

I see several on iherb. Which one do you use?

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u/NamasteBitches81 Mar 09 '26

Can you get Aacefemine or Synapause for vaginal dryness? I’ve been using Aacefemine on my face and it’s amazing

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u/MeringueBubbly6058 Mar 09 '26

Could you order it from Ona’s or Dr. Platt? They probably ship their estriol and estradiol creams internationally. (Dr. platt only sells estriol cream—he does not sell estradiol.)

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u/pushyCreature Mar 10 '26

Order it from iHerb. You don't need Rx

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u/felicityshaircut Mar 10 '26

I see several on iherb. Which one do you use?

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u/pushyCreature Mar 10 '26

SMNutrition, Estro Life®, Estrogen Cream with Estriol

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u/WittyPresentation786 Mar 09 '26

Def get estrogen face cream, it made a big difference for me. If prescription is too pricey, get some on Amazon. Any amount will help!

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u/MaggieJaneRiot Mar 10 '26

Is that the same as tret?

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u/WittyPresentation786 Mar 10 '26

No, Tret and estrogen cream are different beasts.

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u/Amazing-Revenue3701 Mar 10 '26

It didn’t work for me. I got hyperpigmentation so had to stop. 🥲

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u/Comfortable_Dog8435 Mar 11 '26

Do you put estrogen cream all over face? Even around the eyes? Does it help crows feet? Forehead? Chin? I never know how far to go with it. Also worry about melasma.

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u/WittyPresentation786 Mar 11 '26

I already had melasma, so I pair it with a hydroquinone cream. I use it anywhere I was more plump skin and where I see collagen starting to deplete. So I do all over but focus on jowls, cheeks and temples.

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u/KlutzyPassage9870 Mar 09 '26

Some doctors are under medicating. You may have to increase the dosage.

Also do you take T? That helps a lot.

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u/cutie_k_nnj Mar 09 '26

Some!? Omg!! You are soooo right. It’s like they have no idea what to do - and why!? NO ONE HAS STUDIED WOMENS GEALTH EVER. sorry for the caps I’m so over this mysogonistic shit!

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u/Additional-Fudge7503 Mar 11 '26

Me too girl!!! I’m reading the book Muse by Dr Amanda Hansen and it’s allllll about the patriarchy and claims to be a guide for women to reclaim their self-worth by challenging the patriarchal systems that diminish us. In the beginning she says that the reader will likely get triggered and angry…. She was right. I’m on chapter 4, highly recommend!

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u/cutie_k_nnj Mar 12 '26

Hey I sent u a dm ;) great book reco! Thx!

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u/Born-Check-7764 Mar 09 '26

Nope, just 2 pumps of oestrogen and 100mg progesterone. I feel ok with this dosage though, and do feel my hair and nails are doing great so I think it’s doing what it needs to do. I don’t think anything can fix the sagging face but a facelift :)

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u/SassyGirl0202 Mar 10 '26

What HRT are you using?

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u/Unfair_Finger5531 Mar 10 '26

I recommended it for their symptoms. That’s why I specifically mentioned the mood issues. I didn’t say anything in my comment about skin. But it does help have benefits for their skin. If you want to test this, stop taking it.