Understanding Menopause: Symptoms, Skincare, and Support
Menopause Awareness Month is October, but what exactly is menopause?
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive cycle. It is when periods have stopped completely for over a year, and this typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, although symptoms of perimenopause can start as early as 35. On rare occasions, symptoms can begin even earlier. Perimenopause is when we experience symptoms such as hot flushes, irritability, fatigue, and irregular periods. There are around 34 common symptoms that women can experience. Some will have just a few symptoms, while others may have a harder time. There are also some more unusual symptoms to watch out for, such as cold sweats, a burning mouth, dry eyes, tinnitus, and many more!
Menopause also brings changes to our skin. We may notice things like drier, flakier skin, the appearance of dark spots, increased facial hair growth, and a loss of plumpness and thinning of the skin. Some women may also experience acne or pimples again.
Luckily for us at Jamele, we have a new supplement range specifically designed to ease the menopausal journey. It’s called MenoMe®, and it’s New Zealand-made, natural, evidence-based, and designed by Kiwi women for Kiwi women. Jenna Moore is an accredited health and menopause coach who can answer many of the questions you may have.
MenoMe® has four different formulations to help ease discomfort and help us function at our best again:
Merry Peri is for perimenopause. It contains Affron® Saffron, Sage, and Fenugreek to help alleviate mood swings, hot flushes, restlessness, irritability, and sleep issues.
Perky Post is your post-menopause superhero. While it addresses many of the same issues as Merry Peri, Perky Post also contains Affron® Saffron, Fenugreek, Sage, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, and Resveratrol to support bone health, libido, and mental clarity.
LotsaLocks helps keep hair, skin, and nails strong. Thinning hair can happen to women at any age, not just during menopause. LotsaLocks contains a pure keratin protein sourced from the wool of New Zealand sheep to help support hair density and vitality.
Happy Go Tummy is a combination of prebiotics derived from gold kiwifruit and probiotics cultured from New Zealand cheese. It helps with digestive issues that menopause can stir up, like bloating, sluggish bowels, and excess gas, while keeping our gut microbiome healthy and digestion running smoothly.
We don’t need to suffer in silence! We now also have access to much more personalised help with different menopause clinics opening their doors. Menopause Care NZ is based in Mount Maunganui with Dr Cheng, who has a wealth of knowledge to guide you through your journey, offering both HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and alternative treatments. You can book online with Dr Cheng without a referral, and she can organise all necessary blood work and prescriptions. Visit menopausecarenz.com for more information.
With each of our skincare ranges, we have a multitude of products available to help with any changes your skin is experiencing.
Janesce has a new range available called Affinité Silken Rose, which includes a serum, mist, and cream. These products provide support through hormonal changes, protection from environmental damage, hydration, reduction in visible fine lines and wrinkles, and many other benefits.
Dermaviduals offers a custom range to add all the extra actives your skin needs. We can customise serums, masks, cleansers, and moisturisers to meet your unique skin needs. There is a concentrate called Isoflavin, which is excellent for those dealing with oestrogen deficiency. Vitamins A, B, C, and Hyaluronic Acid also make great additions to skincare routines for menopause-related concerns.
Environ has their Youth Essentia Range, which is rich in both Vitamin A and peptides. Peptides work at a cellular level to stimulate collagen and elastin production. In addition to this core range, they also offer the Rad Shield, which protects against heat, the Revival Masque, which stimulates growth factors in the skin and helps lighten, brighten, and tighten, and their 3D Synerge Filler Crème, which helps plump and firm the skin.
Every woman’s skin will go through its own menopause experience, so be sure to come in and talk with us to find out what products would be best for your skin.
We also have two information evenings coming up in October for you to learn more about your menopause journey, whether you’ve just started or haven’t yet begun. Both Jenna Moore and Dr Cheng will be available to answer any questions you may have. Contact us at Jamele to secure your spot.
October 23rd: Online event with Jenna Moore from MenoMe®
October 30th: In-clinic event with Dr Cheng
