Are you starting to experience “summer surges” or “tropical sweat attacks” even if it is be­low freezing temperature? This is not funny because you could be approaching a new phase of womanhood which is the meno­pausal stage! It’s estimated that anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of American women of a certain age experience hot flashes. But according to an interesting article on the internet, hot flashes are not as common in some Asian countries or Mexico where only about 10 percent of menopausal women suffer from it. There is a theory that Japanese women have such low rates of hot flashes due to their high fiber, low fat and high consumption of soy diet.

The reason why I am tackling this topic is because a lot of my clients complain about changes in their skin, mostly unfa­vorable, and I want to explain how menopause or near menopause stage can contribute to many skin problems. Typically, menopause begins sometime in the late for­ties or early fifties. Women know this and a lot of women have ex­perienced it already. However, the monthly periods can start to be sporadic, starting from late thirties to early forties, and women won­der what is happening to them. Some women get diagnosed with something else, while others sim­ply are in the peri-menopausal stage. When the skin starts to be­come a concern most especially if the person knows that she is honestly taking care of it, then hormonal imbalance is really the culprit!

As a woman heads into peri-menopause, the reproduc­tive system is actually preparing to “retire”. As this occurs, ev­erything begins to change. For early menopause to begin, the production of two hormones es­trogen and progesterone begins to slow down and the egg sup­ply decreases. This results in the body ovulating less and less until the time comes when there is no production at all. Other common symptoms associated with meno­pause include anxiety, breast soreness, lower desires to engage in _ _ _ (you know what I mean) and probably the two worst symp­toms – hot flashes and the sweat attacks at night.

So what happens when the fe­male hormone production drops? The female hormones other than truly being responsible for child bearing functions, help transport vital enzymes throughout the system, maintaining positive lev­els of cholesterol, and triggering calcium activities. Estrogen helps improve blood flow and increas­es the level of certain chemicals in the brain (serotonin) which is known to improve mood. Hus­bands or partners should know this in order to understand why a woman, near‑ing peri- meno‑ pausal stage, experiences mood
swings. Being patient with your partner as she experiences an emotional roller coaster will greatly help. This is the time women need to be assured that they are loved and needed despite the ‘many changes’ that nature will unfold. Hey ladies, don’t make this an ex­cuse to be regularly grouchy, eh! (lol)

Now, the unfortunate truth: menopause may go hand- in- hand with skin problems! Major­ity of my clients have the same problem of aggravated skin con­ditions when they used to have flawless or better skin when they were younger. Being exposed to harsh winter conditions, stress, incorrect lifestyle habits, plus the fact that there is a decreasing level of estrogen production, all contribute to skin problems or adult acne. Be aware, though, that not everyone suffers from the same skin problems and should not expect the same levels of skin aggravations. Typical skin condi­tions to expect are dry skin, acne, tiny veins/ broken capillaries, and sometimes melasma or hyperpig­mented masks on the face, mixed with the existing sun damaged spots, warts, cholesterol pads and a lot more making us look old and aged. (OMG!)

These skin conditions which create anxiety to most of us vary according to how early and how well we pay attention to the care of our skin. Please don’t whine about your skin problems and look for “miracle” treatments when you insist on using body soap on your face! There are a lot more things to do and avoid do­ing. There will definitely be modi­fications in your skin care habits for sure! I always recommend us­ing the proper products for your skin and as I perseverate on say­ing : Wear SPF and DRINK LOTS OF WATER !!

Consultations are complimen­tary, so take advantage! I will be more than happy to suggest skin treatments to improve your skin conditions. Call: Bje Tan at 604.783.2447 or Bonnie & Clyde: A Day Spa Getaway : 604.270.9506 ( look for Jane ) 160-5890 #3 Road cor. Westminster Hway, Richmond (Vanc­ity Tower Complex) website : www.enhance-can­ada.com ( google or yahoo)

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