Skin & Hormones for Aging Women
We often correlate skin & hormones to teenagers and acne. However, hormonal fluctuations affect us again as we enter our 40’s and 50’s. This is what I will address here.
As we age and reach pre-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause; our hormones are dramatically affected. As our Estrogen and Progesterone are decreased, so do our other Vitamin Hormones, insulin, thyroid, EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids-Omegas), and Peptides (proteins). All of these affect both our internal health as well as our skin health. A reduction in our body’s ability to produce these hormones as we age leads to visible signs of aging and immune deficiencies such as skin laxity, wrinkles, crepy and thin skin, pigmentation, extended time to heal, adult acne, dehydration, and inflammation in our skin.
The question becomes, “how can we counteract all of these results of aging?” We want to focus on both our internal health and the surface of our skin, because both affect how we look and feel. Afterall, our skin is part of our excretory system, so it reveals a lot about our internal health!
The first thing I always encourage is to focus on good nutrition. If you are not eating the right kinds of food to replenish these vitamins, minerals, and nutrients; then be sure you are taking supplements that will. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, & K, along with Omegas, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Iodine, Boron, and fiber are all very important. They all work in different ways to keep your mind and body healthy.
Compare your symptoms to what you may be deficient in:
Skin & Hormones
Essential Fatty Acids (Omegas)
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- Help preserve membranes
- Aids with inflammation
- Aids in heart health
Vitamin A
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- Helps boost skin cell production and collagen, keeping the skin more taught
- Helps with acne and milia
- Helps with hot flashes and cramps
- Helps stabilize moods
- Boosts immune system
- Helps improve vision
Vitamin B
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- Modulates and balances Estrogen & Progesterone (B2)
- Helps adrenals and ovarian hormones which aid in mood stabilization (B5)
- Helps metabolism & Estrogen (B6 & B12)
Vitamin C
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- Aids the immune system & healing
- Increases hydration in the skin
- Helps pigmentation
- Helps even color and improve glow
Vitamin D
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- Aids in skin tissue growth & repair
- Helps with cholesterol
- Helps with bone health
- Helps protect the skin
Vitamin E
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- Helps hot flashes
- Skin protection and hydration
- Aids in wound healing
- Aids Vitamin A & C to work better
Calcium
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- Helps balance ovarian hormones
- Helps with cramps
- Aids bone health
Magnesium
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- Helps cramps
- Diuretic
- Aids in ovarian and thyroid health
Selenium
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- Aids in healing and protection
- Aids in thyroid health
- Anti-cancer
Iodine
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- Aids thyroid health
- Aids breast health
- Aids ovarian health
- Regulates Estrogen
Boron
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- Works like Estrogen to protect bones
Estrogen
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- Aids in collagen and elastin production
- Keeps skin thicker
- Aids in healing
- Helps color balance in skin
*Too much estrogen can cause hyperpigmentation, including melasma (pregnancy mask)*
Progesterone
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- Increases sebum production
- Anti-inflammatory
*Too much can cause hyperpigmentation, including melasma*
Peptides/Proteins
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- Thyroid- absorbs iodine to balance metabolism, regulates how the body turns calories and oxygen into energy, poor thyroid can cause more frequent and long-lasting bruising
- Insulin- determines how the body uses sugar. If it is not utilized properly, it causes an immune deficiency, skin tags, melasma, and a beer belly
- Oxytocin- most commonly known as the pregnancy hormone and affects emotions
In addition to eating the right foods or taking dietary supplements to improve the levels of these hormones, vitamins, and minerals; you can also use topical products that incorporate them as the primary ingredients…treating the condition(s) from the inside out!
IMPORTANT: If an ingredient is not listed in the first 3-5 ingredients, there is not enough of it in the product to be effective!