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1 BILLION* women globally
are experiencing
(PERI)MENOPAUSE TODAY

15.5 MILLION** women in
UK are affected by
(PERI)MENOPAUSE

Sources: *National Institutes of Health; **GenM Invisibility Report

What is Menopause?

Menopause is confirmed 12 months after a woman’s last period, but the transition starts earlier with perimenopause, sometimes as early as age 35.

Stages of Menopause

Click through to learn more about the different stages of menopause.

Oestrogen is steady during reproductive years. Then it begins to fluctuate during perimenopause, causing symptoms such as hot flushes or mood changes. 

By menopause, around age 50, oestrogen drops and stabilises, marking a new chapter in a woman’s life and the end of your natural reproductive years.

Postmenopause refers to the time after menopause happens where you won’t have menstrual periods any more and your hormone levels settle, but you may continue to experience menopause symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms

You may experience some of the 48 signs of (peri)menopause.

 

Skin Symptoms

(Peri)menopause can change the way your skin looks and feels – skin dehydration in menopause is a common symptom that many women experience. During perimenopause, your oestrogren levels begin to drop and your skin’s collagen production slows. As your skin is 75% collagen, the decline in collagen production leads to a loss of thickness, firmness and elasticity. Studies show that skin loses around 30% of its collagen throughout the first five years of menopause, followed by an annual 2% decline for the next 20 years.

Itchy skin – known medically as pruritus – can occur in perimenopause and may continue after you have entered menopause. As your oestrogren levels begin to drop, so too does your skin’s collagen production, which can cause dry menopausal skin to become thin, dehydrated and itchy. This can affect the entire body but often occurs on the neck, chest and back.

Caused by hormonal changes, hot flushes are a feeling of intense heat that can build slowly or come on suddenly. Symptoms can include warm skin, upper-body sweating and a red face, neck and chest. Your heart may also beat irregularly and your fingers may tingle. Around 75% of (peri)menopausal people will experience hot flushes. They can start months or years before your periods stop and may continue for years after. 

As your oestrogen levels fluctuate, your hypothalamus can have trouble regulating your body temperature. This can create an intense feeling of heat and can cause your body to sweat. It’s normal to sweat throughout the night if the room or your bedding is making you too warm, but night sweats are when your clothes and bedding are soaked through, even if the room feels cool.

As you reach (peri)menopause, reduced oestrogen levels disrupt the hypothalamus – the part of the brain that regulates temperature. This tells our bodies to make more sweat. Bacteria on the skin breaks down proteins in the sweat, creating body odour. 

What is the MTick Certification?

 

The MTick is the world’s first universal shopping symbol to signpost menopause-friendly products

Visit the GenM Website to learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

The menopause typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can begin earlier. The first phase is called perimenopause, which is when you experience symptoms of menopause but your menstrual periods have not yet stopped. It’s considered early menopause if you stop having regular periods before the age of 45, while premature menopause is if this happens before the age of 40.

Symptoms of the (peri)menopause can last for months or years. Many women will experience early symptoms while still having periods. These symptoms can change with time – for example, hot flushes may improve, while other symptoms such as vaginal dryness and joint pain may continue after your periods have stopped.

If you're dealing with menopause itchy skin, you're not alone – menopause and itchy skin often go hand in hand. Skin changes are a common symptom of (peri)menopause, as falling oestrogen levels and reduced collagen production can leave skin feeling dry. Menopause and skin dryness are often linked due to hormonal changes that affect your skin's moisture and elasticity.

At Sanex, we believe that your skin should feel comfortable and healthy at every stage of life. It’s natural to seek relief for the itchy skin menopause may cause and you should look out for products developed with dermatologists and ones that have the Mtick meaning they are menopause friendly.

Discover our Resources and Support section below for more guidance and information on menopause. You can also access additional support and learn more about the MTick symbol through our official partner, GenM.