Changing the face of menopause

Skin aging accelerates with the decrease in hormonal activity that accompanies menopause:  skin loses its density, becomes dry, furrows and sags. However, when applied topically, phyto-estrogens stimulate cellular renewal and reduce skin density loss.

You can tell a lot about people just by looking at their faces. They’re like maps of how well we’ve treated our bodies over the years. You can tell how much time was spent enjoying the sun, how well we eat — you can even tell whether we get enough sleep. Unfortunately, for most of us, the damage we do inevitably shows up on our skin. We can change that, though, by getting the nutrition we need, the sleep we crave and protecting ourselves from UV rays. One aspect of life that will change our appearance and whose effects on our skin we have almost no control over is menopause — that is, until now.

More than four million Canadian women are experiencing or have experienced menopause, which occurs when the ovaries stop producing hormones called estrogen. Low estrogen levels are linked to symptoms of menopause including hot flashes and mood changes. Many women know about these physical symptoms. But what is not as well known the effect of this decrease in estrogen on our appearance.

Our skin is composed of 70 per cent collagen, a hormone-stimulated tissue. In order to maintain renewal of our skin, collagen needs a steady supply of estrogen. During menopause the level of estrogen drops dramatically in a woman’s body and, therefore, the quantity of collagen in our skin decreases. As a result, skin loses its density and becomes drier; fine lines deepen and the skin on the face and neck begins to sag.

It’s all in the phyto-estrogens
Until recently, these dramatic changes to a woman’s skin were thought to be largely irreversible. But researchers at Vichy Laboratoires have discovered that to renew the appearance of skin after menopause, the key is phyto-estrogens. These plant-based hormones, which are similar to the estrogens produced by the body, are commonly used to treat physical side effects of menopause. Now, the beneficial effects of these phyto-estrogens have been applied to Novadiol, an intensive redensifying treatment for face and neck. When applied topically, Novadiol stimulates cellular renewal, restoring plumpness to skin and reducing further breakdown of the skin’s support structure.

This exclusive brand of phyto-estrogens, called Phyto-Flavones® by Vichy Laboratoires, combine three key ingredients: Cinnamic acid (which mimics hormones that stimulate collagen); Phloroglucinol (which activates the production of collagen) and Soybean isoflavones  (phyto-estrogen that protects the skin’s natural collagen from breaking down and acts to boost proteins that make up collagen).

Clinical tests speak for themselves
Once the right combination of ingredients was found, in vitro tests on menopausal skin confirmed the revitalizing effect the powerful combination had on skin. In clinical trials, after twice-daily applications of Novadiol to face and neck, improvements were seen immediately. In the second month of treatment, Novadiol significantly corrects
the loss of skin density.

After three months, subjects found skin firmness increased by 60 per cent and facial contours redefined by 55 per cent. After six months, results were even more dramatic: skin firmness on face and neck improved by almost 70 per cent and facial contours redefined by almost 65 per cent. In consumer testing over the course of six weeks, 160 women over the age of 48 reported an improvement in the tone of neck skin by 75 per cent and a boost to skin density of 70 per cent.

To find out more about the effects of menopause on your skin, call the skin care info line at 1-866-DR-VICHY.

Novadiol from Vichy Laboratoires. Exclusively in drugstores.

This Special Sponsored Feature was produced by the editors of CARPNews 50Plus in co-operation with Vichy Laboratoires.