Could the reason for your mood swings and dry skin be more than you think?
Understanding your hormonal health is a complicated business. For many, short of what your parents and teachers told you about puberty, it's often not a learning priority until you begin to transition between different, later-life stages.
Oestrogen plays a huge role in how some of your organs function and is also the hormone responsible for controlling menstruation. Females start to produce Oestrogen during puberty, and it rises and falls depending on where you are in your cycle.
However, when Oestrogen starts to fall, little by little, as you approach your late 30s / early 40s, significant changes are felt (and seen) in different areas of your body. For many women, it can be a confusing time; they continue to have regular periods but experience menopause-like symptoms. Friends, welcome to life's hormonal limbo: Perimenopause.
Here, we look at four common symptoms women report when entering perimenopause (and which treatments could make the journey a little easier).
HAIR LOSS
CurrentBody Skin's hair care expert, Tom Smith, shares that hair loss and thinning can have various causes. "Most commonly in the salon, I see a correlation between poor health, a bout of illness or a period of high stress. Hormonal changes in the body also play a role, with thinning hair during menopause or after having a baby also being quite a common concern."
A reduction in hair-helping hormones (Progesterone and Oestrogen) during perimenopause is an apparent reason you may see more strands in the shower than usual. When these hormones decrease, hair can become thinner and slower to grow.
What can help?
"Prioritising a healthy lifestyle is paramount," says Smith. Managing stress levels is followed by science-led treatments like LED red light therapy. My clients love the CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet. LED technology is proven to be a simple and effective option for improving the quality of hair growth."
SKIN PROBLEMS
If you've noticed your once bouncy skin losing its luminosity, there's a good reason for it. Many women in perimenopause experience dry and itchy skin. The drop in oestrogen levels is to blame once again. High Oestrogen levels are crucial for maintaining the skin's hydration because it helps the skin produce natural hyaluronic acid and ceramides. When Oestrogen levels decrease, so does the youthful glow of the skin.
What can help?
Once again, keeping your overall health in check is a must. Drinking plenty of water, reducing caffeine intake and prioritising a balanced diet with plenty of healthy fats are helpful, but what else?
"Red light therapy face masks work on the skin's 'powerhouse' layer up to 4mm below the skin's surface", explains Dr. Sanghvi. "They stimulate the skin to produce ATP, powering the skin cells and stimulating collagen production. The CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask uses red and near-infrared light to target skin cells, enhancing blood circulation and calming redness for an even skin tone."
STRUGGLING TO FOCUS
Beyond the usual fatigue of modern life, struggling to focus or dealing with 'Brain Fog' is a legitimate symptom when it comes to perimenopause. Experts explain that it could be a knock-on effect of some other symptoms - all of which cause significant sleep disruption. But, on a hormonal level, Oestrogen is the culprit here. Playing an essential role in stimulating the brain by ensuring the neurons are alert and aiding the creation of new cells. This reduction in brain energy causes a rather unpleasant mix of symptoms such as night sweats, hot flushes, anxiety and the dreaded brain fog.
What can help?
If your forgetfulness and memory loss feel unmanageable and happen suddenly, it's essential to talk to your doctor in the first instance. But if you could benefit from some wellness tools to help you relax at home, infrared heat therapy is a great way to achieve daily downtime. Experts confirm that it's a great way to detox the body, improve sleep and relieve stress.
MOOD SWINGS
Irritability comes high on the list of reported symptoms as women enter their perimenopause era. Hormonal changes mean that it’s Oestrogen again the root cause, as it declines so too does serotonin - the mood stabiliser. Similar to recognisable feelings of pre menstrual syndrome (PMS), the lack of hormonal balance means that feelings of rage or frustration can appear out of nowhere, which can lead to confusion and sadness.
What can help?
Again, if rage or anger affects your ability to maintain relationships, it's best to speak with a healthcare professional. But, as with hair loss and skin concerns, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a powerful tool in your perimenopausal arsenal. Working out regularly, as well as practicing mindfulness and meditation is proven to help stabilise your mood. As is fuelling your body with a mood-boosting gut-friendly diet that includes fatty fish, fermented foods, seeds and nuts.
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