Does Menopause Affect Rosacea?

Hormonal fluctuations can have a significant impact on your skin, especially with regard to inflammatory skin diseases like rosacea. Because the majority of people who struggle with rosacea are women, the link between this common skin disease and menopause is a hot topic. Most evidence suggests that while perimenopausal women may experience new onset rosacea or increased rosacea flares, postmenopausal women may enjoy a relief from rosacea symptoms.

Rosacea Risk May Decrease in Postmenopausal Women

According to Geng et al., it’s not uncommon for rosacea to be diagnosed in perimenopausal women, pregnant women, and women who are taking hormonal contraceptives. While there is still more research to be done regarding the link between rosacea and hormonal and reproductive factors, researchers believe there is substantial evidence to show that the risk of rosacea is greater among pre and perimenopausal women than in postmenopausal women.

A team of researchers evaluated data collected from more than 80,000 women in the long-term cohort study, Nurses Health Study II. Data was collected from study participants from 1991 to 2005, including information about menstrual cycles, menopausal status, and the use of contraceptives during this period of time.

Several hormonal and reproductive risk factors were identified after analyzing this information. The risk of rosacea appeared to increase in:

Premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women.
Women taking exogenous hormone pills, including birth control and postmenopausal hormone therapy. The longer women were taking estrogen-containing postmenopausal hormones, the greater the risk of rosacea.
Nulliparous women.
Women with an early or late age at first birth.

Conversely, many women see a decrease in rosacea symptoms after menopause.

What Can I Do to Manage My Rosacea?

Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed with rosacea in perimenopause or have long struggled with this common skin condition, there are many exciting new treatments that may be able to help. Of course, you should work with your physician to create a treatment plan that works best for you. Ask about new prescription Rhofade™, a topical cream that reduces redness caused by rosacea. There are many other prescription medications for rosacea as well, each designed to work best for specific rosacea subtypes.

Combine prescription treatments with lifestyle changes, such as avoiding certain foods and drinks that may cause a symptom flare-up, avoiding strenuous exercise during the warmest parts of the day, and keeping your skin protected from the sun, wind, and other weather conditions that could aggravate symptoms.

Bottom Line

There is still much more to learn about the underlying causes of rosacea and why hormonal changes in women can affect the risk of developing this skin condition. As more research is done, we can more effectively treat and maybe even prevent rosacea from developing.

If you are having trouble with perimenopausal skin changes, such as redness, dryness, or uneven pigmentation, consult your physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. The sooner you start addressing these issues, the easier it will be to get them under control.

To stay up-to-date on the latest rosacea news and research, be sure to follow Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You’ll also find helpful skin care tips and advice for rosacea and other skin problems from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Leslie Baumann.

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