Calroy Health Sciences

Author: Hannah Singleton
Medically Reviewed By: Gouri Pimputkar, DO FACOOG, DipABLM
Date Published: 10/20/2026

Key Takeaways 

• Skin changes are common during perimenopause because of fluctuating  hormone levels, including estrogen, gut health,  and inflammation. 

• Common signs include dryness, itching, sensitivity, flushing, and changes in firmness and elasticity.

• Even though certain skin issues are common during perimenopause, everyone’s skin is different, and that includes caring for it. 

• Gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and daily sun protection can help support most people’s skin through the transition, but some changes warrant discussing with a healthcare professional. 

Experiencing skin changes as an adult can be frustrating: Your long-time favorite moisturizer now leaves your skin feeling tight and dry, or a gentle exfoliant you swore by now stings when you apply it. Generally, your skin starts to feel less youthful and fine lines increase. If you’re dealing with perimenopause skin issues, you’re not alone. 

These changes are common in women going through perimenopause, the transitional years leading up to menopause.  In a 2026 study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, 36% of 1,457 menopausal women reported that skin issues were their top concern. Yet despite how bothersome these symptoms can be, skin rarely gets much attention in conversations about perimenopause, which can make it difficult to know how to care for it.

Here’s what dermatologists say about the most common perimenopause skin issues: why your skin is changing, what you can do to keep your skin feeling supple and healthy, and when you should talk to a dermatologist. 

Why Does Your Skin Change in Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the time period leading up to menopause, which sometimes consists of  unpredictable changes in menstrual cycles and hormone levels. During perimenopause, estrogen and other hormone levels can shift dramatically, fluctuating up and down before eventually falling after menopause. These hormonal swings can affect how skin looks and feels. 

If perimenopause has brought on skin changes, here’s a closer look at what may be going on beneath the surface:

Hormonal shifts: As estrogen and other hormones fluctuate, the skin changes in response. Flushing during hot flashes is the change proven to have the clearest relationship to hormones. When estrogen drops, the hypothalamus (the part of the brain responsible for temperature control) thinks the body is overheating and hurries to cool it down. Blood rushes to the skin,  resulting in temporary redness and warmth. 

Hormone changes may also contribute to collagen loss, which can make skin appear thinner and feel less firm. A 1999 study in Maturitas looked at 14 premenopausal women and 18 in postmenopause and found that the postmenopausal group had lower skin collagen levels than their younger counterparts. However, more recent research shows that collagen declines naturally with age, especially in sun-damaged skin, so it's tricky to untangle how much of the difference is due to hormonal changes. In general, perimenopause has been found to be an inflammatory phase, as estrogen plays a regulating role in immune response. 

Natural Aging: Not all perimenopause skin changes are hormonal, says  Dr. Marisa Ponzo, MD, a double-board certified dermatologist at North York Dermatology Clinic in Toronto. Natural aging also impacts how your skin behaves. For example, the skin’s moisture barrier relies on lipids, like ceramides, to retain moisture. According to a study in the Archives of Dermatological Research, these lipids decline with age, and this impact on skin hydration can hit especially hard  in the winter months. It’s important to note that the sample for that study only included white women, so it's unclear whether the findings apply across different racial or ethnic groups. 

What researchers are still figuring out: Researchers still have a lot to learn about which skin changes are hormonal and which occur with aging. A 2025 study in Skin Research and Technology  found that skin hydration and water loss varied throughout the menstrual cycle — suggesting that hormone fluctuations may influence both — but the researchers noted that existing evidence on how reproductive hormones affect the skin barrier remains limited and conflicting.

Emerging evidence suggests a gut-skin axis, connecting microbiome health (or dysbiosis) to skin conditions. A 2021 review of research in the journal Microorganisms explains that researchers are actively exploring the two-way relationship between the gut microbiome and skin. Some evidence shows that an imbalanced gut microbiome is connected to a list of common skin complaints, playing a significant role in the development of various inflammatory responses, and that postbiotics can support the skin barrier. The review concludes that more research is needed in this area.

Dr. Ponzo says that perimenopausal skin changes aren’t predictable and universal, and that research tells us little about how these changes differ from person to person. “Sometimes we oversimplify menopausal skin and make it sound as though every woman will experience the same changes,” she says. “We have good evidence that estrogen affects collagen, hydration and the skin barrier, but we still have a lot to learn about how these changes develop throughout perimenopause.” 

Fortunately, many of the same skincare strategies can help whether hormones, aging, or both are contributing to a particular change.

Common Perimenopause Skin Changes (and What Helps)

Perimenopause and skin problems don't always go hand-in-hand, but it can be bothersome when it does. “The most common skin changes I hear from patients are dryness, itching and increased skin sensitivity,” says Dr. Ponzo. 

Women may also notice that their skin isn't as firm, that fine lines are becoming more noticeable, or that they're developing texture or color changes. “Often, they feel that their usual skincare routine just isn't working the way it used to,” she adds. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly-experienced perimenopause skin changes:  

Dry Skin and Tightness

Does perimenopause cause dry skin? It’s one of the common symptoms that Dr. Ponzo sees in patients going through this transition. One survey published by the British Menopause Society  found that out of 50 women attending a menopause clinic (half of whom were still having periods), 76% reported dry skin. 

What It Looks (Or Feels) Like: You might notice your skin feeling tight after cleansing, dry patches appearing in places they never used to, or your usual moisturizer no longer providing enough relief. 

Why It Happens: Estrogen helps support the skin's moisture barrier, which keeps water in and irritants out. As estrogen levels change during perimenopause, this barrier may become less effective at retaining moisture, leaving skin feeling drier and tighter. Natural aging can compound the problem as levels of protective lipids decline. As progesterone levels fluctuate and decline during the perimenopause transition, additional skin effects are seen.

What Helps: Start with a gentle, low-pH cleanser instead of traditional bar soap, which according to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, can strip away some of the lipids that help protect your skin. Apply moisturizer shortly after bathing or washing your face, while your skin is still slightly damp, to help lock in moisture. Look for products with ingredients that support hydration and the skin barrier (more on those below).

Itchy Skin

Does perimenopause cause itchy skin,too? According to the same British Menopause Society survey, 78% of respondents reported itchiness, making it even more common than dry skin among the women surveyed. Itchiness can result from dry skin, or be a symptom of something else. 

What It Looks (Or Feels) Like: Some people report itching that’s worse on the shins, forearms, or back. Often, the itch persists even after applying moisturizer. 

Why It Happens: Perimenopause can contribute to itchy skin, particularly when hormonal changes affect skin hydration. Declining estrogen affects the lipid barrier, slower barrier recovery, and nerve fibers and mast cells are also estrogen dependent, which makes us more sensitive to these changes. Dry skin is more prone to itching, but dryness isn't always the culprit. In a study of 200 people with persistent, generalized itching but no visible rash, 29% had low ferritin, a marker of low iron stores. Although the study wasn't specific to menopause, it shows that itching shouldn't automatically be chalked up to hormones or dry skin, so it may be a reason to speak with a healthcare provider. 

What Helps: Repairing the skin barrier and being gentle with it. One idea: Turn down the temperature in your showers. In a 2022 study of 50 healthy adults in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, hot water increased water loss through the skin barrier more than cold water did. Moisturize consistently, especially after bathing. Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan, also recommends choosing fragrance-free skincare products, since added fragrances can irritate sensitive skin and exacerbate itching. 

Skin Sensitivity and Reactions to Products

During perimenopause, the skin may become more reactive, even to  products that have been used without issue previously. 

What It Looks (Or Feels) Like: You may feel a burning or prickling sensation when you apply skincare products. Redness may linger longer after washing your face. You might also notice your skin feeling irritated after cleansing. 

Why It Happens: Both hormones and natural aging change the skin’s barrier so it may be more reactive to ingredients and need more support than it used to. Because of declining collagen production, the “skin is thinner and more fragile,” says Dr. Jaliman. 

What Helps: Opt for gentle, fragrance-free products and wash your face with lukewarm, rather than hot water. Patch-test new products on a small area of skin before applying them all over, and introduce only one new product at a time, so it’s easier to identify what’s causing a reaction. If a product starts irritating your skin, stop using it. 

Redness and Flushing

Waking up in sweat-soaked sheets. A sudden wave of unbearable  heat at the office when everyone else seems fine. Hot flashes are one of the most notorious and uncomfortable symptoms of perimenopause. They’re also a common cause of visible changes to the skin.

What It Looks (Or Feels) Like: A sudden rush of warmth (accompanied by redness) across the face, neck, or chest. The redness typically fades as the hot flash subsides. 

Why It Happens: During hot flashes, blood vessels near the skin’s surface widen, increasing blood flow and causing temporary warmth and redness. Researchers have documented this increase in facial blood flow during hot flashes in postmenopausal women in Menopause. Although the study did not include women going through perimenopause, flushing is a common, temporary part of the menopause transition. Fluctuating estrogen levels can make the skin thinner and more sensitive, so the flushing may feel even more uncomfortable, according to a 2026 review in the Journal of Integrative Dermatology. 

What Helps: Gentle skincare and daily sun protection can support skin health, although they won't prevent the flushing caused by hot flashes. If redness persists between episodes rather than fading as your body cools down, it's worth bringing up with a healthcare professional.

Changes in Firmness and Elasticity

Your skin doesn’t feel as bouncy as it used to. That’s because skin gradually loses some of its fitness and elasticity with age. Collagen loss from declining estrogen levels may also be a culprit, particularly after menopause.

One study estimated that skin collagen and thickness decline by roughly 1 to 2% per year in the years following menopause. However, much of this research comes from relatively small studies of postmenopausal women, so it’s less clear how these changes unfold through the duration of the transition. 

What It Looks (Or Feels) Like: Your skin may feel thinner and less springy than it used to, you may bruise more easily, and fine lines may become more noticeable. 

Why It Happens: Collagen provides skin with structure and firmness.  Estrogen helps support collagen production, so fluctuating levels may contribute to changes in skin thickness and elasticity. 

What Helps: Daily sunscreen is one of the most effective ways to help preserve skin firmness, since UV exposure contributes to collagen breakdown. Other skincare ingredients may also support collagen production and improve the appearance of fine lines; see the ingredients table below. 

Building a Skincare Routine for Changing Skin

If you’re dealing with menopause and skin changes, you may be tempted to buy a whole new lineup of skincare products. But you don’t necessarily need to add more steps to your routine; in fact, you may need to simplify it. “In this case, less is more,” says Dr. Jaliman.

Here are the skincare basics that both Drs. Ponzo and Jaliman recommend for perimenopause skin problems.

Gentle cleansing: Use a mild cleanser rather than a traditional alkaline bar of soap, which can strip away protective lipids and cause more dryness for sensitive skin.

Lukewarm or cool water: Skip the steaming hot water when showering or washing your face. Use lukewarm or cool water instead. A 2026 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science suggests that even warm water can increase moisture loss through the skin compared with cooler water. The controlled, randomized study was conducted on behalf of a skincare company, so independent research is needed to confirm the findings.

Moisturizing: Moisturize regularly, especially after bathing. Dr. Ponzo suggests looking for ingredients like ceramides and glycerin to help maintain hydration, and cutting back on exfoliating acids if your skin is irritated. 

Daily sunscreen: Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day to protect against UV-related skin aging. Increased skin sensitivity from menopausal hormone fluctuations can also make UV damage worse.  In one randomized trial in Annals of Internal Medicine, adults under 55 who used sunscreen daily showed 24% less skin aging over 4.5 years than those who applied it at their discretion.

Easing in: Patch test new products on a small (and not obvious) area of skin before you use them across your entire face or body. And — rather than overhauling your entire routine in one go — implement one change at a time to figure out how your skin reacts to specific ingredients. 

How Long Do Perimenopause Skin Changes Last?

If your skin is feeling tighter, drier, or flushing more often, you’re likely wondering, Will perimenopause skin changes last forever? 

The answer depends on the symptom. Some changes may shift along with hormone fluctuations, while other changes (like collagen loss) continue to decline gradually after menopause. Experience varies between individuals. Here’s what to expect based on current research. 

Redness and flushing: In a large US study, frequent hot flashes and night sweats lasted a median of 7.4 years in total, continuing a median of 4.5 years after the final period.

Firmness and elasticity: Older, small studies suggest collagen continues to decline by roughly 1–2% per year after menopause. However, a 2023 study in the Journal of Menopausal Medicine suggests that menopause hormonal therapy can increase elasticity and collagen content of the skin, so those on MHT may slow the decline. Another 2026 study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that 56% of respondents taking hormone replacement therapy felt that their skin conditions improved.

Dryness, itch, and sensitivity: Long-term research on how dryness, itchiness and sensitivity change across the menopause transition is limited. Research directly measuring hormonal effects on the skin barrier has produced mixed results. 

Because the relationship between perimenopause and skin isn’t fully understood, you shouldn’t wait for your symptoms to pass. You can begin to address them with the dermatologist-recommend skincare routine above, or speak to a healthcare professional to help you navigate symptoms that persist or worsen. 

When to Talk With a Healthcare Professional

Because skincare is often left out of the menopause conversations, many women don’t feel skin care changes are worth bringing up to their doctors. In one survey of 50 women attending a menopause clinic, nearly half reported trying to manage their skin symptoms on their own.

And while some can troubleshoot their skin issues at home with a simplified routine, other changes require the support of a healthcare professional. If symptoms persist despite adjustments to your routine, or interfere with daily life and comfort, it’s worth getting a professional opinion. “We shouldn't automatically attribute new skin symptoms to menopause without making sure there isn't another underlying cause,” says Dr. Ponzo. 

Check in with your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing: 

• Itching that doesn’t respond to moisturizers, since other factors may be worth investigating

• Redness that persists between hot flashes

• Breakouts that don’t respond to gentle skincare

• Any new or changing spot on the skin 

And skin changes are often only one piece of the complex, perimenopausal puzzle. While you’re talking to your doctor, you could also discuss any other symptoms you’re experiencing. What's right for you depends on your individual needs,  medical history, and preferences. Your healthcare provider can help you figure out which options make sense for you. 

Skin Is One Part of a Whole-Body Transition

Your skin might not be the only thing acting differently these days. Maybe you’re waking up in the middle of the night, dealing with a cloudy mind, or noticing changes in your mood. Fluctuating hormones during perimenopause can cause changes across the entire body, impacting an array of systems and challenging everything from sleep to gut health to temperature regulation.

Many women look for ways to support their health as a whole rather than addressing individual symptoms. Selentra HP is a hormone-free dietary supplement designed for women who are approaching or currently navigating perimenopause and menopause.  It can be used alongside menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or on its own, for people who prefer a non-hormone-based option.

A published, placebo-controlled  trial on VMK223 (one of the two ingredients in Selentra HP)  in women aged 40-55 found measurable improvements in skin hydration (+28%), elasticity (+27%), and wrinkle depth (−28%) over 12 weeks of use.

The Bottom Line

If your skin suddenly seems to have a mind of its own during perimenopause, hormonal changes may be partly responsible, but natural aging and other factors can play a role, too.

You don’t need a 10-step routine to solve the problem: A few simple adjustments can go a long way toward making you feel comfortable in your skin again. And if something still doesn’t feel right, bring it up with your dermatologist or healthcare provider. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

Why does my face look different during perimenopause?

Changes in estrogen, combined with natural aging, may affect your skin's hydration, firmness, and elasticity. You might notice more dryness, fine lines, or changes in texture, although not everyone experiences the same changes.

Is dry skin a symptom of low estrogen? 

Declining estrogen plays a role in skin hydration. However, perimenopause dry skin has many possible causes, including natural aging, environmental conditions, and skincare habits. Dryness alone doesn't indicate that your estrogen levels are low.

Can skin changes start before periods stop?

Yes. Menopause starts one year after the last menstrual cycle, but perimenopause can begin years before menopause. Changes in your skin may occur during that time due to fluctuating hormones. You don't need to have stopped menstruating to experience symptoms.