Could hormone replacement therapy be the elixir of youth, reducing menopausal symptoms but also restoring a youthful appearance?
Certainly, the decline of sex hormones that begins during the perimenopause has a physical and psychological impact, so does supplementing these hormones make us look and feel younger?
Let’s have a close look at the effects of hormone replacement therapy on our bodies and appearance.
The role of sex hormones
Sex hormones affect our lives, behaviour and appearance throughout our lives. They begin to shape us in the womb, and drive our health and behaviour through puberty, our fertile years, menopause and the ageing process.
The levels of female hormones, progesterone and oestrogen begin to fluctuate during the perimenopause and then drop significantly during menopause.
The impact of menopause on the body
As hormone levels drop, many women begin to experience menopausal symptoms, which impact their health, well-being, and daily life, including the following:
- Hot flushes
- vaginal dryness
- reduced bone density
- night sweats
- mood swings
- a higher risk of heart disease
- diminished sexual desire
- low energy levels
These debilitating symptoms alone are enough to have a detrimental effect on the appearance, but women often find that some menopausal symptoms directly affect the way that they look.
How do menopausal changes affect physical appearance?
The drop in female sex hormones during menopause often affects the integumentary system, which includes the skin, hair and nails, impacting the following:
- Skin health – the skin becomes noticeably drier and thinner. Skin elasticity is reduced, leading to sagging skin and the development of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Hair – hair loss is a common symptom of the menopause. Most women will experience thinning hair, with hair becoming finer, drier, less shiny, and more prone to breakage.
- Nails – low oestrogen affects nail growth and makes the nails more brittle.
Menopausal weight gain and loss of muscle mass
Weight gain is the number one issue for many women after menopause. Loss of muscle strength is equally important, as both factors affect how we look and move.
- Weight gain and fat distribution – even women who have always been hourglass or pear shaped suddenly find that they start carrying around their middle for the first time in their lives after menopause.
- Decline in muscle mass – this is a physiological symptom of the ageing process, accelerated by menopause. Loss of muscle affects strength and appearance, as it affects body composition and influences posture.
Menopause is a natural process, but many women find these changes challenging, especially if they have an early menopause.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
HRT is designed to relieve the symptoms of menopause caused by hormonal changes.
Traditional hormone replacement therapy uses synthetic hormones, but at Face Medical, we use bi-identical hormones that are created with plant oestrogens extracted from yams and soya.
Hormone replacement therapy is sometimes delivered as tablets, but HRT patches and gel are also available.
You can read more about Bio-Identical Hormones here.
Does HRT make you look different?
Hormone replacement therapy can’t halt the ageing process altogether, but it can reduce menopause symptoms that are affecting your appearance and restore some of your youthful glow.
- Skin – higher levels of oestrogen are reflected in the skin, as they can boost elastin and collagen production, which are responsible for maintaining skin elasticity, and increase hyaluronic acid in the tissues, increasing hydration.
- Hair – oestrogen is associated with thicker and more lustrous hair. Boosting oestrogen levels will improve the quality and youthful appearance of your hair and help prevent further hair loss.
- Nails – your nails will benefit from increased levels of collagen, becoming smoother and stronger again.
Will HRT help me lose weight?
Just as some individuals do not experience weight gain after menopause, the effect of HRT on weight is variable. Some women find that their fat distribution changes with a reduction in fat around the middle, but this does not happen in every case.
However, hormone replacement therapy can improve well-being. Many women on HRT report higher energy levels, fewer mood changes, and a more positive outlook. All these changes will help you to stay active. Regular exercise will have beneficial effects on body weight and fat distribution.
Does hormone therapy make you feel younger?
HRT not only boosts energy levels. It also leads to reduced aches and pains and improved sleep. These factors, combined, will put a spring in your step and help you make healthy lifestyle changes leading to a more youthful appearance and a positive outlook.
Next steps
If you would like more advice about starting HRT, contact our friendly team to book a consultation.
Our private HRT clinic is CQC registered. To book an appointment, please call 01706 691683, email info@themenopauseclinic.com, or book online here.
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