New survey reveals embarrassment over menopausal experience

A new survey released by the British Skin Foundation (BSF) has found that nearly a quarter of those who have gone through the menopause felt embarrassed or ashamed to talk about their experience.

In the survey, 85% of 100 people surveyed experienced some skin changes during the menopause, with 24% feeling embarrassed to discuss it.

The most common skin symptom reported was excessive sweating (21%), followed by laxity of the skin (18%), excessive signs of ageing (15%), alterations in pigment (12%), rosacea or broken blood vessels (8%) and late onset acne (6%). Only 15% of respondents reported no changes to their skin.

Despite how common menopausal skin changes are, 22% of respondents felt they were uninformed about the effects of the menopause before going through it. As a result, the BSF believes it is vital to encourage conversations around the menopause and remove any embarrassment to ensure everyone has access to the information they need about their skin.

Eleanor Lloyd, communications officer at BSF, said, “It is evident from our survey results that the menopause causes a whole host of skin symptoms, with varying degrees of severity, for a lot of people. Unfortunately, some stigma is still associated with the menopause which may cause a barrier for people to talk about what they are going through and ultimately seek help and guidance.”