Background: Menopause is a normal feature of the female aging process that commonly occurs during the sixth decade of life. During perimenopause, many negative effects begin to occur in the skin due to decreasing production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen supports the extracellular matrix, collagen production, and dermal blood supply, while progesterone promotes extracellular matrix formation, dermal blood supply, and dermal water retention. Decreased testosterone affects cutaneous blood supply and sebum production, contributing to skin dryness.
Aims: The primary objective of this consensus roundtable was to discuss best practices for aesthetic providers treating patients with perimenopausal and menopause-related skin conditions.
Patients/Methods: A roundtable discussion was held during a special edition of the Thriving in Diversity webinar series on Friday, June 13, 2025. The panel included a gynecologist, a plastic surgeon, and two dermatologists, who shared their clinical experience and consensus recommendations for treating perimenopausal and menopausal patients.
Results: Numerous therapies are available to treat perimenopausal and menopause-related skin conditions. These include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), topical estrogen therapy, topical retinoids, topical cosmeceuticals such as moisturizers, signal peptides, growth factors, and exosomes, as well as dermal injectables, biostimulators, and energy-based treatments.
The panelists identified hormone replacement therapy, topical estrogen, injectable poly-L-lactic acid, injectable hyaluronic acid, and carbon dioxide laser resurfacing as the most effective interventions for treating hormone-related skin changes.
Conclusions: Although menopause ultimately affects all women and is likely to produce unwanted effects, including undesirable aesthetic changes, numerous treatments are available to treat or mitigate these effects.
