'Miracle' products from the supermarket will not cure your menopause…women need hormones
THE menopause is an inevitable stage in every woman's life – but one that can leave us desperately struggling with a host of uncomfortable physical changes.
Imagine if a brand offered you a miraculous 'menopause-friendly' cream or supplement that would soothe your itchy skin, thinning hair and blotchy face.
2
You would get it it up – and pay the exorbitant price tag for the relief of your symptoms.
As a leading expert on menopause, I have welcomed the increased public attention to this important topic and have moved away from the expectation that midlife women will suffer in silence.
But I am also increasingly concerned about the proliferation of products on the market aimed at this target group, who are vulnerable and seek help wherever they can find it.
While it may seem sympathetic, consumers can easily misunderstand what is assumed advantages for them.
Some retailers launched signs to alert customers to menopause-friendly products, but I doubt the customers who spent cash in their stores looking for answers have found long-term relief.
'Companies see an untapped revenue stream'
The most ridiculous thing I saw before Christmas was a menopause-friendly chocolate bar in another store made from dark chocolate and almonds.
With added saffron extract, affron and B vitamins, it claims to “support your mood”.
More recently, I've seen a special aisle in a supermarket full of lotions and potions specifically for menopausal customers.
I fear the only people who will be helped by this initiative are the store's shareholders.
It's one thing to align your brand with a cause like Pride or Black History Month, to promote diversity, inclusivity and shared values.
But the health problems women face are unlikely to be solved in this way, selling them promises of help when what they really need can often only be prescribed by a doctor.
There would be an uproar if companies similarly marketed products to people with diabetes or asthma.
Yet menowashing is happening all around us – especially in the beauty industry.
'Menowashing' is happening all around us, especially in the beauty industry
It has been known for some time that cosmetic companies see this audience as a previously untapped revenue stream.
The companies are busy to invest in developing products for menopausal women, with carefully chosen packaging and high price tags.
They will also work with the so-called menopause experts and coaches that have proliferated online, who will try to convince their followers that they need a pricey “natural” supplement for their brittle hair instead of scientifically approved hormones.
That word of course can be incredibly misleading.
There are a lot of “natural” things growing in my garden, but many of them I wouldn't want to ingest into my head or apply to my skin.
As a high-profile GP, with a specialist menopause clinic, I am regularly approached by companies wanting me to endorse their latest 'miracle' cream for menopausal women.
Only recently was I offered free samples to try out and possibly endorse products, something I would never do.
When I asked them for the science to back up their claims, I was given a study involving a handful of women.
The women all agreed that the cream had indeed made their skin less dry. But then I asked if the same product would work equally well for my husband or children?
The manufacturers had to admit that it did – and that it contained nothing at all unique to women going through menopause.
Who can use HRT?
The NHS outlines those who may not be suitable for the treatment. This includes:
- Patients with a history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or uterine cancer
- Patients with a history of blood clots
- Patients with untreated high blood pressure – your blood pressure must be controlled before you can start HRT
- Patients with liver disease
- Pregnant patients – it is still possible to become pregnant while taking HRT, so you should use contraception for two years after your last period if you are under 50 or for one year after the age of 50
'HRT is the best way to relieve most symptoms'
Their customers could have chosen any number of menopausal products with equal success.
Let me be clear: hormone replacement therapy is the best way to relieve the majority of symptoms in the large numbers of women who can use it safely.
Menopause is due to a reduction and imbalance in the hormones we naturally produce to regulate a wide range of functions, not just fertility.
Science shows us that by adding back estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, in a way and dose that suits the patient, we not only relieve the discomfort, but also future-proof the woman's health.
Once she has the right balance, we can address any remaining issues as we would with other patients, whether that's an iron supplement or extra vitamin D.
But thanks to a lack of up-to-date GP knowledge, a shortage of appointments and negative publicity surrounding the treatment, only 14 per cent of British women who need HRT are accessing it.
Let me be clear: hormone replacement therapy is the best way to relieve the majority of symptoms in the large number of women who can use it safely
I think back to eight years ago, when I was suffering from my own menopausal symptoms, even though my knowledge is not yet what it is today.
I would have done anything to get rid of the headaches and joint pain – and to get my life back.
A nicely packaged cream with “meno” added to the name would have easily attracted me.
But I would have felt just as down and frustrated as before, only with a worse bank balance.
We need to expose this menowashing and ask the brands jumping on the bandwagon to show us real scientific evidence of their claims.
They really need to educate staff on the subject, rather than encouraging them to scare off customers with drinks.
Beauty consultants helping a midlife woman who has acne or dry skin should know to suggest they consult a GP about perimenopause so they can treat the underlying cause of the symptom.
But to suggest that they can be “cured” by a shampoo and a collagen supplement is demeaning and harmful to all of us.
We have been silent about menopause for too long. Now we need to make it clear that women need hormones and not face cream.
5 BEAUTY PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SORT THEM
By Alex Lloyd
Balancing your hormones so they work in a more stable way is likely to improve many hair and skin problems during perimenopause and menopause, says Dr. Newson.
She says: “My philosophy is to treat people from the inside out. If you are healthy and balanced, you also see it on the outside.”
But if you're still bothered, here's what to do…
ACNE: Just as the hormone fluctuations of your teenage years cause pimples, pimples can return due to the chemical changes of middle age.
When estrogen decreases, androgens such as testosterone can dominate and stimulate the sebaceous glands that produce sebum.
This then leads to oily skin with pores that are more likely to become clogged.
Dr. Newson says: “Take a look at the products you use and see if it might be time for a different approach.
“Maybe your moisturizer is too oily or your face wash is too drying.
“But this doesn't mean you need specialized menopausal skin care, just one that suits you personally.”
ITCHING SKIN: During this stage of life, the fatty lipid layer that sits on and protects the skin barrier begins to thin.
This means we lose more water through the skin, which can make it feel dry, dull, flaky and sensitive.
It can occur on any part of the body, from the face and hands to the back and scalp.
Dr. Newson says: “Avoid scented products and choose things that contain an emollient to help. However, do not take a hot bath with only water in it, as this can be extra drying.”
DUNNING LOCKS: About 40 percent of women experience hair loss after menopause.
For most this will be all over the scalp, while the rest will have it around the front and temples.
There are a number of reasons for this, including changes in hormones and follicles becoming smaller with age. Dr. Newson says: “It's worth having your nutrient levels tested as iron could be a factor.
“Similarly, this could be related to your thyroid.”
REPORT AND WRINKLES: Collagen is a protein that provides structure, support and strength to your skin and connective tissue.
But studies show that skin loses about a third of its natural collagen during the first five years of menopause.
This is because estrogen is key to its production and a reduction in the hormone leads to less collagen and reduced skin plumpness.
Dr. Newson says: “A healthy, balanced diet is essential to keep your skin in good condition. Make sure you eat enough protein and reduce your intake of processed foods.
brittle hair: A drop in estrogen levels can wreak havoc on your scalp, with reduced sebum production making it less lubricated and sensitive.
Because that scalp oil is no longer there to work its way through the strands, the hair becomes drier, duller, more brittle and more prone to breakage. A lack of natural oils can also change the pH of your hair, leaving it feeling rough and coarse.
Dr. Newson says: “Take a look at the brush and hairdryer you're using to see if a gentler option might help. Or try a more moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.”