Strictly speaking, when a woman experiences her last episode of menstrual bleeding that is true menopause. However, in popular usage, and even among health care practitioners, the term also loosely describes the entire process -- the years leading up to and following the actual menopause event.



What is commonly known as the change of life, the word menopause denotes a period of time during which important hormonal changes take place, and a woman slowly loses her fertility, or ability to conceive.

Estrogens and progesterone are known as female sex hormones, while androgens are the male sex hormones. The reason why a woman's body is thrown off balance is the declining production of estrogens and progesterone. The onset of menopause brings on a gradual shutdown of the ovaries, resulting in a permanent hormone deficiency. This deficiency triggers some of the typical symptoms of menopause, such as mood swings and hot flashes. Certain conditions also may develop at that point including adult female acne.

Although estrogens are the dominant hormones for the physical development of women and the regulation of bodily functions, androgens, the male sex hormones, are also produced in the female body. They exert their own regulatory effects. They influence, for example, the libido and muscular development, and they are involved in the normal development of the hair follicles. Although menopausal women continue to produce only small amounts of male sex hormones, the effect of the androgens can become stronger as a result of the dropping estrogen levels.

One of the strongest androgens, testosterone, causes the skin to produce more sebum (skin oil). Testosterone also affects the way the skin is able to slough off dead cells. These cells get caught in the pores and hair follicles, already filled with excess oil. The oil and surface dirt get caught behind a plug of waxy oil and skin cells causing inflammation and infection. This event triggers the body's immune system to send out infection-fighting white blood cells that also get caught in the affected area, and a red bump or cyst appears.

Menopause is associated with a number of other cosmetic problems which some women find very distressing. Estrogen deficiency leads to a reduction of collagen and elastin, the fibers in the skin which are responsible for its elasticity and firmness. When combined with acne breakouts, loss of skin firmness and texture create a complexion that most women aren't proud of. since these cosmetic problems are also consequences of the estrogen deficiency, hormone replacement therapy is a good form of treatment. Therapy which contains the anti-androgen progestin, in addition to natural estrogen, can counteract menopausal acne and other skin problems. Ask your doctor for advice.