Keeping Skin Cool through Menopause with Mineral Air Skin
Dermatology Nurse Practitioner KarriAnn Khalil, Skin Sisters specialist in aesthetic dermatology in Beverly Hills, keeps you posted on the changes ahead.Illustration for Mineral Air by @GREENK_JPN.
“Menopause is one of those things you’ve got to go through to get out,” notes KarriAnn Khalil, a dermatology nurse practitioner known for her skin rejuvenation finesse. “It’s a process rather than a hard and fast date whereby a woman’s reproductive system shuts down. It can begin as early as a woman’s 40s as estrogen hormone levels drop and concludes when you haven’t had a period for a year. On average, the whole of menopause transition is done by one’s early 50s.
“Menopause isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition,” she continues, “There are as many different experiences with menopause as there are women. In our practice, we’ve seen patients who sailed on through and didn’t even know they were going through perimenopause (the early stages of hormone diminishment) and menopause except that their periods slowed down and eventually stopped. On the other hand, we’ve seen others for whom menopause was years of such complete upheaval that they’ve had to seek medical intervention. How a given person chooses to respond will depend on her and her symptoms.”
Heat of the moments
Hot flashes, aka flushes, are some of the more unwelcome of menopause’s symptoms for many women, not least of which are their sweat-soaked unpredictability. They won’t last forever but can be difficult for those who get them. From a physiological perspective, they are the body’s way of resetting its internal thermostat to release the heat that comes with the diminishment of estrogen. KarriAnn suggests a strategic approach that includes dressing in layers that can easily be removed as needed, a cooling pillow at night and avoiding spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine.
There are temporary comfort fixes too. Having a jade roller fresh from the freezer or Mineral Air’s Renewal Serum System in its ElixerMist Device for a quick spritz of cooling vapor can give you relief from the heat whenever you need it.
Negotiating skin changes
KarriAnn notes the menopause’s effect on skin. “Estrogen is a major factor in collagen synthesis; young female bodies have lots of it, aging female bodies do not. Collagen is the stretchy connective tissue that gives skin its structure, flexibility and youthful tone. As estrogen lessons during menopause, so too does the quantity and quality of collagen in the skin. By far, the most common complaint we hear from out patients is that their skin becomes crepelike, looking dry, loose and lackluster. Likewise, there’s volume depletion that further adds to skin slackness.
“But I want to emphasize that menopause isn’t the end of the world, nor is it necessarily the end of your skin’s beauty,” KarriAnn reassures. “If you so desire – and many don’t – we have scores of sophisticated, non-surgical approaches to keep skin even, smooth, plump and looking youthful. Where there’s a will, there’s a way; this is not your grandmother’s menopause. We have choices now.
“Cosmetic dermatology is very exciting these days because new, ever-more-efficacious treatments are being introduced regularly. These range from technologies like radiofrequency with micro-needling that triggers collagen formation to IPL (intense pulsed light, aka fotofacial) that not only encourages collagen synthesis but also helps clear redness and inflammation from rosacea or post-acne traces. As for replacing lost volume, we have ever-more-natural looking filler injections in the hyaluronic acid family (such as Restylane or Belotero) or the collagen regenerating Sculptra.
“Finally,” KarriAnn sums up, “there is a brilliant new generation of topicals to use at home. Our favorites at our practice lately for menopausal skin are Empelle, specifically formulated for estrogen deficient skin, and U.SK Under Skin’s Precious Elixir Infusion Platinum.”
Lifestyle choices
While menopause is a natural systemic process, there are plenty of things you yourself can do to mitigate many of the skin changes that comes with aging. Note that these are things you should be doing anyway; regular sunscreen use, hydration, nutrition, exercise and stress management.
Concludes KarriAnn, “As you get older, this is where a lifetime of diligent sunscreen use pays off because it prevents pigment blotchiness and leathery texture we associate with aging skin. But matter how old you are, the time to begin applying an SPF 30+ every day (and preferably twice a day) is NOW. The same with staying hydrated. If you’re already a devoted water drinker, keep going. If not, today is a good day to start.”
What’s the difference?
Mineral Air offers two device-plus-formula categories, one for makeup, the other for skincare.
Mineral Air original (MA) includes its AirMist Device, an easy to use, everyday consumer tool that rivals professional airbrushing in its cosmetic application of our eponymous foundation, blush, or bronzer.
Mineral Air Skin (MAS) features the Renewal Serum System with its ElixerMist Device for lightweight vaporized delivery.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, this is not your grandmother’s menopause. We have choices now.”
KarriAnn Khalil, FNP
Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
AVA MD - Skin Sisters
W skinfive.com / avamd.com
IG @skinsistersbeverlyhills