Monday, May 26, 2014

Diminishing the Physical Signs of Menopause

Signs of Menopause: Sagging Neck
The neck can be menopause's first casualty.

To prevent further damage, apply sunscreen and a rich moisturizer or serum in upward strokes daily. You don't need a separate "neck-firming" product – your facial moisturizer will work just fine.

"If you have significant sagging and severe aging, surgery and lasers are the only treatments that work," Dr. Read says.

While there's no specialized surgical procedure for the neck, it can be tightened as part of a facelift.

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Signs of Menopause: Dark Skin Spots
Wonder where those dark spots on your face and backs of your hands came from?

"Melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment, produce too much in some places and too little in others," Dr. Baldwin says. "The cells are either revved up or revved down due to fluctuating hormones."

This hyperpigmentation shows up as dark spots or splotches on the face, neck and chest, most commonly on those with fair skin. To protect against this, wear sunscreen with active ingredients including zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or avobenzone.

Baldwin suggests a prescription retinoid (such as Retin-A), which is "far superior to over-the-counter versions," she says.

"Alpha-lipoic acid and quercetin [antioxidant supplements] can help skin regenerate and may remove pigment deposits from the inside out," says natural-health expert Mao Shing Ni, Ph.D., founder of the Tao of Wellness clinic in Santa Monica, Calif.