Can Menopause Cause Skin Rashes? Here’s The Answer

Understanding Menopause: What Happens To Your Body?

Before we start on menopause skin rashes, let’s have a brief discussion on “what menopause is?” 

As any woman will tell you, menopause is a natural part of growing older. Quite commonly, it occurs at the age of about 40-50. So, it is the cessation of menstruation for a woman that indicates she has not had her periods in the last twelve months.

Even though its normalcy is out of context here, menopause and its related side effects usually occur because of a decrease in estrogen hormone production in a woman’s body. Research studies prove that a lack of estrogen causes a woman’s skin to lose elasticity, moisture, and even thickness.

How Does This Connect To Your Skin?

Women during menopause experience a myriad of skin disorders. They suffer from dry, patchy skin or reddening patches that usually take a considerable amount of time to heal. This happens because when estrogen levels drop, the skin produces less collagen and natural oils. Collagen keeps the skin firm and smooth, while natural oils keep it hydrated and soft. Without these, the skin can become dry, thin, and more prone to irritation or rashes.

Have you experienced a sense of irritation or noticed that your skin is feeling different recently? These changes might be a direct result of menopause.

Why Does Menopause Cause Skin Rashes?

It isn’t strange that skin rashes may occur during menopause. These occur for several reasons that we have already mentioned in the previous section. Here, let’s discuss the underlying mechanism that leads to skin rashes.

1. Dry Skin

The primary symptom of menopause that is most evident is cracked skin. Skin that has an insufficient level of hydration will definitely peel off, feel dry, and become rash-prone. Decreased levels of natural oils further decrease your skin’s barrier effectiveness, leading to irritants affecting your skin. 

2. Hormonal Swings

When estrogen levels go below a certain threshold, the skin becomes thinner, which leads to a loss of elasticity. Thin skin is easily irritated by germs or chemicals that did not affect the person before. 

3. Hot Flashes And Sweat

Are you experiencing the most dreaded symptom of menopause, “hot flashes”? These sensations of heat can result in sweating.  This sweat can be trapped in the skin pores, which causes the surrounding skin to get hot or inflamed.

Curious to know more about hot flashes and their natural remedies? Read our blog, Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes: Effective Relief During Menopause.

4. Growing Sensitivity Level

Have you ever noticed your skin reacting to things it never used to? Menopause can make your skin more reactive to allergens or irritants, such as perfumes, detergents, or skincare products.

Types of Rashes You Might Experience 

There are different kinds of skin rashes. Suffering from one of them doesn’t necessarily mean that you will experience the other. In this section, we highlight some of these skin rashes to be on the lookout for during menopause: 

1. Eczema

Eczema rashes appear on the body surface as inflamed, dry, and itchy patches. Some women may develop them due to increased sensitivity during menopause.

2. Heat Rash

Hot flashes may cause the body to sweat. If the sweat glands become blocked, this may lead to tiny, itchy bumps, commonly known as heat rash.

3. Contact Dermatitis

If you notice that your body is reacting to products you have been using for some years now, this might be an allergic reaction to your skin, known as contact dermatitis.

4. Rosacea  

Hormonal changes that occur during menopause may trigger the symptoms of Rosacea, which causes redness or flushing of the skin or rashes on the face.

If you can relate to or identify with any of these symptoms, don’t worry; proper identification is the first step in managing any condition.

How To Manage Menopause-Related Skin Rashes

Now that you understand why rashes occur, let’s discuss how to manage and prevent them. There are multiple methods of managing them. You don’t need to be scared. A bit of care and precaution can save your skin. Here is how you can manage them.

1. Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Dry skin is the most common reason women develop rashes during menopause. Proper moisturising and hydration are both key components that help ease the irritation.

Why it helps: Drier skin is more prone to cracking, itching, or inflammation; thus, the protective barrier of the skin is also weakened, and it becomes more susceptible to irritants.  

What to use: Moisturisers containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides are useful in retaining moisture.  

How often do you drink water? Considering that hydration starts from the inside – drink at least eight glasses of water.  

2. Switch To Gentle Products

As your skin grows more sensitive, how do you care for it? Steer clear of harsher chemicals and fragrances.  

Why it helps: Strong soaps and heavily perfumed products can make the skin drier than it is by stripping it of its natural oils, which makes the skin even more rash-prone.  

What to use: Choose skincare products labelled as hypoallergenic or meant for sensitive skin. For their soothing qualities, seek out products containing aloe vera, oatmeal, or chamomile.  

What not to use: Alcohol-based toners, scrubs with coarse, large grains, and powerful cleaning agents.  

Do you usually go through the ingredients of the products you use? Certainly, you should from now; it’s time for a change.

3. Wear Comfortable Clothing

Clothes tend to either break you out or ensure your body stays protected. Overly tight or synthetic clothes can sometimes irritate sensitive skin types.

Why it helps: Loose clothes eliminate friction, allowing the skin to breathe as the skin is not constantly rubbing against clothing.

What to wear: Fabrics such as cotton and bamboo are gentle on the skin. Also, these help wick away sweat and thus are good for the skin.

What to avoid: Tight-fitting clothing and polyester clothing should ideally be avoided, as the fabric can build up heat and sweat.

Is your closet menopause-friendly? There are some minor replacements that will help greatly.

4. Stay Cool

A sign of the body going through menopause is hot flashes, which can leave a person sweaty and feeling hot.

Why it helps: Keeping your body’s temperature balanced reduces the chances of getting heat rashes alongside irritation.

How to stay cool: Install a fan in your room, avoid heavy clothes, or even sleep with light blankets. 

Diet tips: Caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods should be avoided, as they indirectly trigger hot flashes.

Have you noticed what triggers your hot flashes? Identifying and avoiding triggers can help you stay more comfortable.

5. Modify Your Food Intake

Skin health is directly associated with food intake, and during menopause, ensuring that you are on a good diet is essential for the skin.

Why it helps: Foods that are high in vitamins help enhance the skin’s elasticity, moisture, and health condition.

What to eat: Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts), foods containing vitamin E (almonds, spinach), and foods with antioxidants (berries or green tea) should be included.

What to avoid: Alcohol, sugar, or other processed foods are best to stay clear of as they can cause dehydration of your skin and may instigate inflammation.

Stress And Its Impact On Your Skin

Menopause is one of the stressful periods for women, and when under stress, your skin can be adversely affected. Stress triggers the body, which causes an involuntary release of cortisol, a hormone that can further increase inflammation and sensitivity.

Why it happens: An increased concentration of cortisol interferes with the functioning of the skin, which can lead to dryness, irritation, and rashes.

How to deal with stress: Set aside time for relaxation. Try practising yoga or meditation and even going for casual walks for a better feeling.

What do you do to manage stress? Choose one that suits you and keeps you happy, and remain consistent with it.

Pro Tip : Apply Sunscreen: Sunlight exposure can stress your skin and speed up ageing. Always apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, even on overcast days. But make sure to use products with gentle ingredients. 

If your rashes become severe or you are unsure how to handle your symptoms, it’s time to reach out to specialists for menopause rash treatment. Nirva Health is equipped to assist you in managing your menopause with ease. 

Nirva’s caregivers craft custom plans based on a woman’s unique needs during menopause and the support she requires. 

This is what our happy customer says after a 2-month consultation and treatment from Nirva Health.

"I was battling severe skin rashes and dryness for the past couple of months. Upon contacting Nirva Health, their team walked me through a tailored skincare and lifestyle step-by-step plan. In a few weeks, my rashes disappeared, and my skin turned healthier. I feel like myself for the first time in ages!" -  Sarah M, Nirva Client

Wrapping It Up

At this point, it’s clear that there’s a link between menopause and skin rashes. You have realised that changes in hormonal levels trigger dry skin, increased sensitivity, and risk of rashes. You’ve learned to recognise common skin rashes such as eczema, rashes from heat, rashes from contact dermatitis, or rashes from rosacea.

We also discussed effective methods to treat and avoid getting rashes in the first place. Remember to drink water, use non-irritating skin care products, dress lightly and eat properly. Stress control and cooling oneself when having hot flashes are just as crucial for skin health.

Keep in mind that menopause should be viewed positively. It is part of life, and it does have its upsides, like being able to take care of oneself. If armed with adequate information and practices, it is completely possible to overcome those obstacles and maintain healthy, comfortable, and beautiful skin.