June, 2007

Balancing Hormones and Skin
 

by Lisa Marie Wark*

Just when you are getting use to the mellower years of womanhood your body decides that you don’t deserve it. You are entering menopause. It can be described in a number of different ways. Some confusion exists because there are several stages of the natural menopause process. Technically, natural menopause is the transition between perimenopause and postmenopause. This entire process usually tends to come to an end around the age of 60.

“Natural menopause occurs when the monthly cycle of ovulation comes to an end. This is because the ovarian supply of follicles and eggs declines sharply as a woman approaches menopause, says renowned medical internist and homeopathic physician Dr. James Forsythe. “During this time, called perimenopause, which can last anywhere from five to fifteen years, the brain continues to send out hormones trying to stimulate the development of ovarian follicles, and it is common for a woman's ovaries to respond erratically, so that her hormones fluctuate a great deal from month to month.”

Dr. Forsythe, who has treated thousands of menopausal patients, points out that eventually, though, the ovaries are no longer able to develop an egg for ovulation. Ovarian production of estrogen goes into a permanent decline, and progesterone is no longer produced. The lining of the uterus thins, since it isn't being stimulated by high estrogen levels each month and monthly bleeding stops. Menopause has occurred.

Not all women experience the same set of symptoms associated with menopause, and the length and severity of these symptoms vary due to genetic makeup, physical and emotional state, and lifestyle. However, here are some of the more common symptoms:

The effects of menopause on the skin can also be profound. The changes in hormone levels for a woman are often times a mirror of what was experienced years before during puberty. Where our teen years were a constant battle against acne and oily skin due to the increase of estrogen and testosterone, our middle years are marked by drier, wrinkled, thinner skin as a result of a decrease in estrogen and testosterone.

The effect on skin is without a doubt the symptom that draws attention the most. This problem is addressed by over the counter skin products, physician grade cosmeceuticals, non-surgical injectibles like Botox® and dermal fillers, aesthetic procedures such as peels, laser procedures, and plastic surgery.   

Over 6 billion dollars was spent on skin products last year in an attempt to moisturize, thicken, strengthen, tighten, and color. Many of these products are purchased off the shelf and have a limited effect in reversing the ravages of aging and the depletion of estrogen. The products that will provide the greatest difference are ones that accomplish more than just surface hydration. These products contain ingredients such as peptides, which can inhibit certain muscle movements that cause wrinkles; retinoids, which promote collagen production; glycolic acids, which smooth out skin tone; and antioxidants, which help offset sun damage.”

Dr. Forsythe often sees new menopause patients that are disappointed in the results they have experienced for off-the-shelf skin products. “Physician grade cosmetics contain higher concentrations of active ingredients like retinoids and delivery systems that can affect hydration at the cellular level and not just at the skin surface. These tend to be more effective and must be purchased from a medical establishment.”

The most popular nonsurgical fix continues to be Botox®, which has been around for more than a decade and is the most widely prescribed and one of the safest "injectables" on the market. Last year more than 2 million injections were given, and the number is expected to increase as new uses are found.

Dermal fillers, which plump up wrinkles and firm up the skin, are among the hottest and fastest-growing new treatments. Last year, more than 1 million Americans used injectable soft-tissue fillers such as Restylane®, Sculptra®, and Radiance® to compensate for the loss of fat and collagen in the face that comes with age.

Deep wrinkles and extensive sun-damage are laser territory, which has traditionally meant removing the top layers of skin to reveal the fresh skin underneath. These "ablative" lasers are effective but require several days for the skin to heal. Now, there is a new generation of nonablative lasers that work beneath the surface of the skin, using short pulses of light to reduce wrinkles and sagging. They are supposed to stimulate collagen production, and treatment can be completed in an hour, thus the "lunch-hour lift."

Plastic surgery is the most dramatic remedy to the effects of aging skin.  Surgical procedures are the most intrusive as they require anesthesia, a long recovery period, and considerable expense.

Women who are going through menopause can begin to address the loss of estrogen through hormone replacement therapy, or HRT naturally.

At the Century Wellness Clinic we recommend natural hormones instead of the highly controversial synthetic hormones.

In short, a bioidentical hormone means that the biochemical structure of the hormone is perfectly identical to the hormone produced in a woman’s body — neither a horse’s hormone nor an artificially contrived formula almost like but just a little different from what a woman produces. Bioidentical hormones can be delivered transdermally by patch, by cream, or orally. Many bioidentical hormones are customized for the patient by compounding them at a pharmacy. 

Through proper diet, key vitamin and mineral supplements, and bioidentical hormones you have a significant chance to alleviate menopause symptoms.  Dr. Forsythe strongly recommends that women partner with a health care professional as they go forward to meet the challenges of menopause. At the Century Wellness Clinic we not only diagnose your hormonal imbalances and prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapies to help you reach a balanced state but we can introduce you to highly skilled medical aestheticians at Revage Medical Spa who will design a customized skin care regimen for you that will help bring back your skin’s suppleness, elasticity, and a brighter complexion naturally.