Dry skin during menopause is a common symptom and can start early in the perimenopausal phase. Over 36% of women over the age of 40 notice dry skin.
What causes dry skin during menopause?
Your skin becomes dry for a couple of different reasons. Number one, low estrogen levels can cause your cells to become dehydrated. Estrogen affects all the linings of your body, including your skin. Secondly, when estrogen levels are lower, your skin produces a lot less collagen, which is a protein that helps keep your tissues together. The skin cells no longer create the nice thick lush stacks that protect you from the drying effects of heat, cold, wind, and water. Lack of adequate estrogen is the main reason for dry skin in menopause.
Can HRT help?
Hormone replacement therapy can be actually very helpful. But once you’re postmenopausal, it can be difficult to get enough systemic hormones on board to improve dry skin. Yet, HRT is definitely the best way to rejuvenate your skin. While not as effective on their own, topical therapies can be helpful if you’re already using systemic estrogen therapy, and by systemic, I prefer to use transdermal or sublingual, not oral. Systemic oral estrogen can increase your risk of blood clots. Always when using estrogen, I recommend you use progesterone, as it helps to diminish the growth factor effect of estrogen for those cells that are outgrowing their welcome, such as tumor cells. Progesterone also enhances estrogen receptors, so that your skin responds to systemic estrogen faster.
What alternative therapies help dry skin in menopause?
Of the topical therapies, hyaluronic acid has been shown to help hydrate your skin. In addition, hydrating your body from the inside out by drinking enough water is important to help moisturize your skin. Every day, you need at least a 1/2 ounce of water per pound of your weight. Also, limit the amount of time that your skin is exposed to water. Hot water especially tends to dehydrate your tissues. After bathing, be sure to moisturize your skin.
Because your ovaries aren’t coming back after menopause, you’re dependent on adequate adrenal function to make some endogenous hormones. Adrenal DHEA can be converted into testosterone, and then into estrogen. Women with fairly good adrenal function will have much less dryness of their skin.
I have found that my menopausal patients who support their hypothalamus with Genesis Gold® have better adrenal function. As well as a lot less dryness and crepiness of their skin. Their skin looks and feels a lot healthier than those who do not support their hypothalamus. Plus, by supporting their hypothalamus with Genesis Gold®, they’re able to use a lot less hormone replacement therapy to keep their skin healthy.
If you have any questions regarding menopausal dry skin, please join us in our Hormone Support Group, which you can when you sign up for my free Hormone Reboot Training below.
Why does skin get so dry during menopause?
Dry skin during menopause is primarily driven by declining estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a critical role in maintaining skin hydration because it supports the production of collagen — the structural protein that keeps skin thick, plump, and resilient. As estrogen drops, the skin’s outer layers thin out and lose their ability to retain moisture, making the skin more vulnerable to dryness from heat, cold, wind, and water exposure. This process often begins in perimenopause, before periods have fully stopped, which is why many women notice skin changes in their 40s.
What is the connection between collagen loss and menopausal dry skin?
Collagen is what gives skin its structure and density. During menopause, falling estrogen levels cause the skin to produce significantly less collagen — some estimates suggest women lose up to 30% of their skin collagen in the first five years after menopause. Without adequate collagen, the stacked layers of skin cells that act as a moisture barrier begin to break down, leaving skin thinner, more fragile, and prone to dryness and crepiness.
Can hormone replacement therapy help with dry skin during menopause?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the most effective options for addressing dry skin during menopause because it targets the root cause — low estrogen. Systemic estrogen, particularly transdermal or sublingual forms, can help restore skin hydration and collagen production. Topical estrogen therapies can also support skin health, especially when used alongside systemic treatment. Progesterone is often used alongside estrogen because it enhances estrogen receptors in the skin, helping your body respond to treatment more effectively. As with any hormone therapy, working with a qualified healthcare provider is essential to find the right approach for your individual situation.
What lifestyle changes can help with dry skin during menopause?
Several practical strategies can meaningfully support skin hydration. Drinking enough water — at least half an ounce per pound of body weight daily — helps hydrate skin from the inside out. Limiting exposure to hot water is equally important, as hot showers and baths strip the skin of its natural oils. Applying a moisturizer immediately after bathing while skin is still slightly damp helps lock in moisture. Topical hyaluronic acid has research support for improving skin hydration, and it can be layered under a moisturizer for added benefit.
What role does adrenal health play in menopausal skin changes?
After menopause, the ovaries no longer produce significant amounts of estrogen, but the adrenal glands continue to produce DHEA — a hormone that can be converted into testosterone and then into small amounts of estrogen. Women with stronger adrenal function tend to experience less severe skin dryness during and after menopause because their bodies are still generating some endogenous hormonal support. Supporting adrenal health through nutrition, sleep, stress management, and targeted supplementation can make a meaningful difference in how skin looks and feels during the menopausal transition.
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