How can menopause affect skin dryness and skin thickness?

During menopause, the significant decline in estrogen production—which can decrease by 80 percent or more—leads to physiological changes that affect the skin.12

Regarding skin health, menopause is associated with both dryness and atrophy (thinning) of the skin. These changes occur as the body’s hormonal environment shifts, impacting the structural integrity and moisture retention of the skin. While some of these symptoms may be influenced by broader hormonal rearrangements involving the adrenal and thyroid glands, the direct loss of estrogen is a primary factor.2

It is important to note that these changes are distinct from the general, gradual loss of skin elasticity associated with aging, which involves the reduction of elastin and the increased cross-linking of collagen fibers. While menopause accelerates certain physiological shifts, it is not necessarily associated with unusual changes in overall physical appearance, and many women experience these symptoms to varying degrees.432