My skin!! Turned to crepe

[MehtotheChristmasrunup]

I’ve got olive skin dark hair. Periods stopped last September at 51. Not had one since .During the year my skin has become like that of a 70 year old. By my armpits and inside of elbows are actual crepe wrinkled skin.

I do love the sun so not expecting fab skin but this is ridiculous. What to do? Too late for HRT ? Collagen? More water? It’s depressing and after having pretty good skin thanks to my natural colouring I don’t feel like myself or wear clothes I like.

I am no use to you, I had a very serious cancer in 2015, took me until 2017 to start feeling normal, 2018 was great and in August 2019 I found a lump, so yet more radio and chemo, the second one has changed my energy levels and body forever, my skin is starting to go crepey and I don’t care, because I am still here.

I am the only one in my social group that is looking forward to being sixty next year, 😂ditto sixty seven so I can claim the state pension. 😂😂

Honestly without sounding preachy it is just the passage of time, be glad that you are here to see it.

You will find your vibe with clothes, I wear brighter clothes now than I did when there was nothing wrong with me. I look in the mirror and say looking good for a nearly sixty year old and off I strut.

Oh and for some reason a pair of Levi’s helped.

Hope this doesn’t sound preachy, it wasn’t meant to, just a different perspective being offered.

I’m afraid I can’t help with knowing if HRT will help, but increasing water intake, moisturising problem areas, and taking a collagen supplement won’t make anything worse! (I’ve stated taking a collagen supplement, and I’ve seen no improvement to hair or skin or nails - but my eyelashes are suddenly the fluttery ones of my 20s again.)

if it helps, I’ve never noticed someone else’s armpit or inner elbow.

@WasThereAnotherTroyforHertoBurn No it’s good advice. Sorry you have had to deal with the cancers.

Although you’ve been through cancer, hard core treatments and you’re 59 and only now starting to go crepey. So I know my skin is not great. Doesn’t help all my similarly aged friends look bloody fantastic.

Have you asked your friends what they do? I bet they have insecurities too, but if you like how their skin looks, find out what they are doing.

Speak to your doctor or go and see a private dermatologist…

There’s no proven science collagen improves skin, red light led or lyma laser do have science backing.

So does the Perricone diet and eating a lot of oily fish, any sort, and no alcohol.

I also have olive skin and my periods stopped about three years ago - I recognise the crepe you mention on my decollate area - but not where you say. I am quite fat though so maybe that is why - are you very slim? But yes go to a dermo and ask for advice.

HRT massively helped my skin, I started two years ago after my period had stopped for a year.

Actually HRT helped everything.

Also have a look at Medik 8 skin care.

I drink 2 litres of water a day.

There is no silver bullet here but start with HRT, more water and great skincare. (I have botox too)

Oh I'm 52 soon sorry I forgot to mention.

I had those creases in my inner elbows. Weight training got rid of them completely

I use a collagen creamer - mostly started cause cream at work goes missing!

it’s shelf stable and can stay in my drawer. I do it for joints and such. I think it says right on there it takes 6 months to see a difference. And once you stop the benefit stops.

i do find my knees are a bit better with it. It’s tasty enough. Not as good as whipping cream of course. But good.

i mostly continue it as there are 5-10g protein in a scoop and ive always struggled getting enough protein.

so anyway! Yeah collagen is great overall, maybe not gonna help your issue.

originally I was told by Dr I need the building blocks to collagen - so body can use it to build. They gave me ‘hair/skin/nails ultra’ brand was ‘pure’

again you have to use it a while to see if it’s working. It does have zinc (im sensitive) in it so I couldn’t keep taking it and switched to the creamer, but if you do take it most people find zinc is hard on an empty stomach.

good luck!

I've seen massive improvements in my skin, hair and nails since taking (a very good quality) marine collagen, it took about 3 months to notice a difference in my hair and nails and about 5 months for my skin to start looking really plump and hydrated. This was the only change I made and I'm thrilled with it. My hubby noticed the difference in my appearance and has been taking it for about a year, his bald spot has almost completely grown over, he's thrilled too!
I'd definitely give it a go.

I heard that red orange veg is good for collagen
Im 56 and also recently noticed crepey and saggy skin -

Thanks all. I really don’t want HRT or to give up alcohol which are probably the most important things I can do ( so will have to give them a go eventually) Going to try Collagen I guess.
I shall report back I’d anything works

Cream teas... are you willing to tell us which marine collagen?

Daily intensive moisturiser.

Yes, I use Absolute Collagen x

You have to assume that if your periods stopped quite suddenly that the negative changes are entirely down to hormones. They might stabilise, perhaps, but otherwise I would try HRT. (Not giving up alcohol, don't believe that makes much difference!) I am in my 40s and not quite perimenopausal yet but my skin looked like absolute shit when I was breastfeeding at 39-40 and my periods hadn't come back. I think it must be the low estrogen. I expect a rerun fairly soon... Let us know if you find anything that helps?

Thanks

I appreciate you don't want to take HRT - but all I can say is that it does have a positive impact on collagen production in skin.
Oestrogen in particular affects so many cells - it goes far beyond the reproductive system.

I've never quite understood with collagen that is ingested orally how the skin is going to absorb it sufficiently from the digestive system - not saying it doesn't... just that I don't really understand the mechanism by which it claims to work - seems like it has the potential for most of it not to be metabolised

The soul never grows old. Be happy with that.
It's an insult to all those that lost their lives young to resent looking older.

Actually I feel really old too. I definitely feel my soul has lost something.

Its not insulting to anyone. That’s life. No one knows when it will begin or naturally end. The alive bit is the bit that counts and I’m fed up with my very sudden decline.

I can't help you OP, just wanted to point out to all those moaning at you for daring to care about your appearance - OP has posted on the Style and Beauty board, it's a board for people who care about their appearance, please stop trying to silence her by telling her she shouldn't care. She does care and it's not as if it's a totally impossible question with zero solutions so she has to face reality. Women across the country indulge in various anti-ageing measures, with varying degrees of success. It's not unreasonable for her to ask about them

Yes!!! Very nicely said.

The soul does grow old, or tired at least. I am quite depressed, having been a single working mother for many years, and feeling like I have no energy to keep on top of what needs doing in the house and garden, things which usually give me joy.
The Style and Beauty board is a welcome distraction, even though I cannot afford half the things on it (and a welcome reminder to drink water and apply moisturiser). OP is allowed to care what she looks like.