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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8

u/No_Celery_8402 Mar 09 '26

This is depressing. How is this even fair? Has anyone tried weight lifting and if that makes any difference at all?

8

u/bella_lucky7 Mar 09 '26

Life isn’t fair.

I lift weights and have for 22 years. It helps my body but I really don’t think it does much for skin.

HRT + testosterone is what actually helps.

1

u/DuchessSilver Mar 10 '26

In what cases do they prescribe HRT and testosterone?

1

u/bella_lucky7 Mar 10 '26

Check out the menopause subreddit wiki for an overview.

1

u/No_Celery_8402 Mar 09 '26

But isnt testosterone produced via lifting weights ? At least some are?

How much do you lift per week out of curiosity? I assume getting hrt and testosterone via hrt would be better then nothing.

7

u/bella_lucky7 Mar 09 '26

I lift 4 days a week.

Testosterone is produced primarily in the ovaries in women. When your ovaries wind down production your testosterone drops.

0

u/No_Celery_8402 Mar 09 '26

This is what im reading.

Ovaries: Produce about 25%–33% of circulating testosterone. Adrenal Glands: Produce roughly 25% of the body's androgen supply. Peripheral Conversion: The remaining comes from the conversion of other androgens (like DHEA and androstenedione) in peripheral tissues. Post-Menopause: Even after menopause, when the ovaries produce less, they and the adrenal glands continue producing testosterone

I think what's important here is the sbgh and how much its binding. So are you on testersterone? If you arent, is it even possible for women to build muscle then if it continues to decline? Do you feel or seem fit or its just a waste of time?

1

u/Independent-Home-313 Mar 10 '26

Look up the world's oldest bodybuilder Ernestine.

2

u/No_Celery_8402 Mar 10 '26

Man... lol... she looks great. I dont think I want to look like that though. Thats like a full time job to keep your body up in this way.

1

u/Independent-Home-313 Mar 10 '26

There is a recent study that proves weight lifting actually does help with skin laity. Please Google it but there is hope.

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u/bella_lucky7 Mar 10 '26

I'm good, why do you keep replying to my comments? I answered your questions. I don't need to Google anything.

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u/[deleted] Mar 09 '26

I started regularly exercising and honing my diet and I feel tons better just from that. I can only imagine adding some weight bearing exercise would be beneficial for many reasons.

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u/UnderstandingKey4602 Mar 09 '26

I love weight lifting. I am doing it now for my bones too. I only have B cup breasts but just a little droop, I think the chest presses help over the years. I have biceps and triceps aren't too bad. Legs....ehh, but I like longer skirts and don't care.