Microneedling in Denver, CO – How to Have Beautiful Skin After Menopause
Can microneedling be your answer to avoiding menopause face?
Menopause begins one year after your period has ended. “Menopause face” describes the changes in your skin related to a drop in estrogen. Yes, believe it or not, it actually has a name.
Estrogen helps to keep your skin hydrated and smooth. It stimulates hair growth and fullness. As the level of estrogen drops after menopause, you can start to experience symptoms like:
Weight gain
Hot Flashes
Poor sleep
Changes in your skin
Hair Loss
… and more. Many women come to me, Dr. Martina at Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine, to help regulate their hormones during and after menopause. This is where I met Susan.
Susan was 62 and on the backside of menopause. She initially came to me to help combat her symptoms during menopause. We worked together to help her regain control of her body.
With the support of a whole foods diet and lifestyle changes – like adding weight training to her exercise program and supplements and herbs using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – Susan saw exceptional results.
Susan started sleeping better, had more energy, and could manage her weight and build muscle. She felt younger and more vibrant – and now considers her age as just a number.
But even after all the positive changes in her life, Susan looked in the mirror and still saw a woman who looked older than she felt. She was experiencing:
Fine lines
Crow’s feet
A sagging jaw and neckline
She had no interest in invasive cosmetic surgeries, and over-the-counter creams didn’t work. She wasn’t aiming to look like she did when she was 30. Susan wanted to look the best she could for her age. She wanted skin that looked and felt hydrated, sagged less, and was brighter.
In today's blog, we’ll explore how microneedling helped Susan and how you can also get beautiful-looking skin after menopause.
How Does Your Skin Change After Menopause?
As estrogen levels in your body decline, you may notice your skin becoming:
Dryer
Thinner
More wrinkly
Increasingly sensitive
Less firm
More saggy
Less taught
You may also experience breakouts and hair loss – and you know you’re not alone.
There are aisles upon aisles in department stores lined with lotions, creams, serums, and hormone treatments. But the research and results for topical treatments are limited and can come with side effects (1). Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) can be an excellent option for menopausal and perimenopausal women to not only alleviate symtoms, but improve longevity.
Like Susan, you’re not ready to jump into surgery. But you would like to find a safe treatment that works with your body's natural healing processes.
You want something that helps your skin look vibrant and healthy. You want your skin to glow.
What Does Microneedling Do?
Microneedling is a simple, safe, effective, and minimally invasive in-office procedure to help rejuvenate your skin after menopause. (1)
Microneedling was initially introduced as a skin treatment to help women get younger-looking skin. Since its introduction in the mid-90s, it has also been found to be effective in the treatment of:
Scars
Stretch marks
Skin tightening
Acne
Hair Loss
Hyperpigmentation
Enlarged pores
Dry/dull complexion
And some other skin-related issues. (2)
Microneedling uses an instrument called a microneedling pen containing circles of tiny needles to penetrate the skin creating a “controlled skin injury.” The needles create “rapidly healing” micro punctures in the skin to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin fibers. This helps tighten or contract the skin giving it a more youthful and supple appearance. (3)
Susan continues to take part in monthly microneedling treatments. She has noticed a difference in the appearance of her crow’s feet, wrinkles, and skin around her jaw. We’re also using nano-needling and cosmetic acupuncture to complement microneedling.
Susan worked hard to feel good on the inside by balancing her hormones. Now she is on the path to look as good as she feels.
How to Prepare for Your Holistic Skincare Procedure
First, it's important to consult with a trained healthcare professional before jumping into any skin treatment. You should ask questions and talk openly to determine which skincare procedure will best meet your goals. And one that's also safe for your unique skin type – especially when experiencing changes in your skin during or after menopause.
When I initially met with Susan, she was interested in helping balance her hormones to help with hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and low energy. It wasn’t until after these issues were resolved that she felt her skin could use a boost. This was how our conversation about microneedling got started. The fact that microneedling was a simple office-based procedure was appealing to her.
A microneedling treatment usually takes between 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
To begin your treatment, a topical anesthetic cream can be applied to minimize discomfort from the procedure. Hyaluronic acid is also used to help keep your skin hydrated.
Once your skin is numb, I gently stretch areas of your skin and pass the pen over your skin. This creates tiny punctures into the middle layer of the skin (dermis). These small punctures increase the blood to your skin and trigger collagen and elastin fibers to grow. Red light therapy may also be applied during this time to support healing and cell regeneration.
After the microneedling is complete, I apply an Apple Stem Cell serum to stimulate cell production under the skin. The final step in your treatment session is the application of a cooling and soothing aloe spray. (4)
Once your procedure is complete, you should follow a few simple recommendations.
How to Care For Your Skin After a Holistic Skincare Treatment
Because microneedling is a non-invasive procedure, you can return to regular activities. But, it's not uncommon to experience mild discomfort, redness, and swelling (similar to a mild sunburn) following microneedling. If you have darker skin, a potential side effect may be post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). To help prevent PIH, sun exposure should be limited immediately following your procedure. (5)
Other recommendations include:
Not washing, but keeping the skin clean until the following day.
Taking a break from social outings that evening.
Not applying make-up or other skin care products for 24 hours following treatment.
Avoiding exercise or other physical activities following treatment that day. (4)
Complementary treatments like nano-needling and cosmetic acupuncture may be used to enhance your results between your monthly microneedling sessions Your doctor may have other recommendations to follow after your treatment. (4)
Besides mild redness – swelling and some peeling of the skin can last for 2-3 days following your treatment. It's important to keep the area from direct sun exposure for at least one week following your treatment.
It’s also good to note that collagen takes time to build up and regenerate in the skin, so you won’t see immediate results. The process of making new collagen – neocollagenesis – will continue for 3-6 months following your microneedling procedure. Depending on your skin type and goals, treatment can be repeated every 3-4 weeks. (3)
Research shows skin treated after four microneedling sessions one month apart has:
Up to a 400% increase in collagen and elastin six months after treatment.
Results that are seen one year following your initial microneedling session.
Tightening can be seen for five to seven years following treatment, depending on your skin type and lifestyle. (3)
Microneedling is a safe, non-invasive, and effective way to lift and brighten your skin after menopause. This, combined with an integrative approach to support your body and balance its internal systems, can be an amazing way to help you move confidently into your next stage of life.
To learn more about the risks and benefits of microneedling check out my blog Microneedling in Denver: Is It Right for You? The Risks and Benefits. You’ll learn all about microneedling, nano needling, and cosmetic acupuncture. (4)
See the Benefits of Younger-Looking Skin After Menopause With Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine
If you’re like Susan, you want to feel and look good from the inside out. You want to celebrate your life experiences and embrace this new stage of life. For you, it's not about trying to be somebody you’re not. It's about celebrating who you are and looking your best.
Microneedling is an inexpensive, safe, and science-backed procedure using your body’s natural ability to stimulate collagen and elastin growth in your skin to give you a youthful glow.
At Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine, I partner with you to achieve your health goals from the inside out using an integrative approach. The services I provide go beyond microneedling. Whether you need help managing a chronic illness, recovering from an injury, or want to enhance your natural beauty, I’m here to support you.
If you live in the Denver area and are wondering if microneedling can help rejuvenate your skin, book a free 15-minute consult. Here we’ll discuss the best path forward to meet your unique goals.
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