Midlife acne and rosacea can be exasperated by menopause and the change in hormones for women. Learn the triggers and treatments so your skin can look its best.

Acne in midlife?? Ugh! Yes! I didn’t realize it was such a common occurrence, I just thought I was some sort of freak of nature. However, it seems our menopausal hormones like to throw things at us to see what sticks. And sadly, acne has stuck to me.

Honestly, it’s just not fair to have acne and wrinkles at the same time!

I have rosacea, and it has gotten progressively worse over the past few years. I never really thought of it having to do with menopause but it’s all tied in together. Funny thing is, I never had acne as a teenager. A stray pimple here or there, but that was it. It wasn’t until my 30s that I started noticing the redness. In my 40s it was becoming annoying but could easily be covered with makeup. But now in my 50s, I can no longer ignore it. A big part of my rosacea problem is the dry patches of skin on my cheeks. Most of the time, trying to cover them with makeup looks worse than the red bumps themselves.

This blog post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.

What is Rosacea and What Causes It?

Rosacea is a quite common skin condition that causes redness along with red, pus-filled bumps on the face. It is caused by hormones, inflammation, and chronic fungal infection.

The most common rosacea triggers include:

Heat
Sunlight
Emotional Stress
Spicy Foods
Alcohol
Menopause
Skincare Products
Medicines
Wind
Exercise
Cold

It most often affects women between the ages of 30 – 60 so it’s no surprise that it is associated with menopause. Lower estrogen levels bring on hot flashes which are a large contributing factor of a rosacea flare-up.

The National Rosacea Society suggests keeping tabs on your condition to be able to determine triggers that cause the flare-ups. They recommend monitoring over a 2 week period.

To help with this, I have created a printable trigger journal. You can find it in my free resource library. To get access to the library, click here.

What is the Treatment for Rosacea?

There is no known cure for rosacea, but all hope is not lost, as there are many treatment options available to manage rosacea. Depending on the severity of your condition, treatment may range from good skin care practices to prescription medication.

Seeking guidance from a dermatologist should be considered if your symptoms are troublesome.

Treatments that may be prescribed include:

Topical Medications
Oral Antibiotics
Laser Therapy

I personally have spent tons of effort and money on all sorts of lotions and potions.  At the end of the day, most just aggravated my skin. I’ve been working on getting it under control with my dermatologist. She’ll prescribe something, I’ll give it about 6 months to see if it’s working, but it’s always the same result – the rosacea is still there! I have tried at least 5 different prescriptions…one even caused a severe allergic reaction with my whole face covered in painful cysts…much worse than the initial rosacea.

Right before the coronavirus lockdown began, my doc wanted me to try yet another medication for the rosacea. She was confident this one would work wonders. How many times have I heard that before? There was a lot of back and forth between the pharmacy, my insurance company, and the doctor. Eventually, insurance approved it. When I went to pick it up the total was $412 (after insurance and manufacturer coupon were applied). My heart sank. This wasn’t just a one-time fee; it would be a monthly cost. I just wasn’t able to justify that price, especially when so many other prescriptions had failed before.

Then Covid-19 happened and I haven’t been back to the doctor since. I was almost relieved to be shut in my home, so no one could see my face. Turns out this is a common reaction to women with moderate to severe rosacea – keep yourself hidden away to prevent embarrassment and shame.

Social anxiety and depression can happen easily if not addressed. There is a fantastic support community at Rosacea-Support.org where you can meet others that are dealing with the same issue and learn what they have been successful with. Most importantly, you will see that you are not alone in your struggle.

Rosacea and Menopausal Acne

Hormones play a big part in midlife skin problems. The same way acne affects a teen going through hormonal changes, it can do the same to women in their 40s and 50s going through menopause.

Some good practices that will help reduce your menopausal acne include:

Reduce milk intake
Cut back on sugar
Increase phytoestrogens
Sleep more
Drink plenty of water
Use gentle cleansing products
Don’t tan

I was doing research on a menopause article I was writing when I came across information on how probiotics can affect the skin. It turns out you can not only balance your gut with probiotics but your skin, too. So, I did a little more research and found one with exceptional reviews that was made especially for midlife women, by midlife women. It claimed to add vibrancy to your skin and eliminate acne. I’ll tell you it was a heck of a lot cheaper than that $400 prescription! So between the price and the rave reviews, I gave it a shot.

The first week…nothin’. I was ready to toss it in a drawer with all the other lotions and potions I had tried, but if I’ve learned one thing throughout my years with rosacea it’s that nothing works immediately, so I stuck it out and told myself I’d at least finish the bottle.

I’m so glad I did!

The left image was from January. My skin actually got much worse after that, which is why we were hoping for that new expensive prescription to work, but I didn’t take a photo when my skin was at its worst. Let’s just say, my face was far from selfie material then. The image on the right is from yesterday.

I am nearing the end of my first month of the probiotic. Am I flawless? Nope. But I am not ashamed of my skin for the first time in years, and I really don’t say that lightly. I have even left the house without makeup on…something I would NEVER have dreamed possible. That may not sound like a big deal, but trust me, it is!

In addition, I’ve noticed:

My wrinkles seem less pronounced
My nails are stronger than ever
I’m sleeping better

The probiotic that I am taking is called MenoGlow. This supplement supports healthy skin, hair, nails, and overall wellness. I really can’t praise it enough. It hasn’t just helped my skin; it’s helped my self-confidence (which clearly shows in those pics!).

One of the reasons I am so jazzed about this supplement is that it is all-natural. I had no idea what was in the many prescriptions I tried. What was I putting into my body? I had crazy side effects and just an overall icky feeling with some of them. By using a natural remedy, I can feel good about what I am taking – and it not only helps my skin but other menopausal symptoms, too.

The company has a few probiotic products to choose from.  There’s MenoFit, to boost metabolism and support weight loss, and MenoGuard which supports immune systems and respiratory health. The great thing about all of them is they each address common menopause symptoms (hey hot flashes, this means you). If you aren’t sure which probiotic is right for you, they have a quick quiz to take that will let you know.

If you think you would benefit as I have, I invite you to take a closer look at what they offer. You can use my coupon code MENOLABSSAVE10 to save 10% on any order.

Has MenoGlow worked for you? Did you have success with a different supplement? Let me know in the comments below.

Check out my other posts for more menopause-related information:

Tips for Better Sleep During Menopause
Best Foods to Control Menopause
Why it’s Important to Track Your Menopause Symptoms
3 Must-Read books on Perimenopause
Hot Flashes: What Causes Them & How to Get Relief