Skin Changes In Our Forties

You may have been lucky as a teen to avoid acne, but by the time you are midway into your forties you may be dealing with adult acne, psoriasis, eczema, graying hair, brittle nails, hair loss, dry itchy skin, moles and/or achy joints.  I forgot to mention the fading memory that comes and goes as you go about your daily life. 

I remember hearing how the 40s were the prime of our lives, but other periodicals describe us 40-something moms as middle-aged women heading into menopause.  These perimenopausal years seem to go on forever, so really it is not menopause we need to fear.  After dealing with all these skin and body changes, it should be a breeze – as long as it is not a hot flash, I can handle it. 

I have suffered with eczema my whole life, but the forties have been extreme with weather changes and missed periods setting my face into a rash and itch fest that just does not stop — it cycles every few months and with the start of a new sesaon.  If it is not an allergy issue, then it is a skin situation that causes me to retreat in the house like an agoraphobic.  I think I would rather have to answer the inappropriate questions on whether I am pregnant than the constant looks I get at my rashy face hidden behind the sunglasses. 

Last month, on the way to the zoo with my teen son, who is homeschooled, we had to make a stop at Rite Aid for a new umbrella because rain was in the forecast.  For me, this was the best type of weather to make the rounds at the zoo without the sun beating down on my face.  The manager was at the register and made the comment that she remembered me saying weather changes affected my face.  It was nice to have someone who knows something about skin issues and acknowledging me and recalling what I had said previously. 

To get back to the question on being pregnant, as I get older my lower abdomen does not have that maybe-she-is-pregnant look, instead the fat has now showed up in the middle region giving me belly fat.  Gone are the days when I can give a snappy response that I could not possibly be pregnant since you need to be having sex for that to happen.  This always stops the question from being repeated as they appear startled by my honest answer.  I was thrilled with not having any periods for a few months, here and there, hoping it would last a whole year and then menopause would be here.  Unfortunately this wreaked havoc on my face and neck with rashes sprouting up all over my body.  Medication and creams did little to eradicate these rashes.  When my period showed up a few months out of the blue my skin cleared up and has been rash-free ever since.  

The weather plays an integral part in my skin as do the hormones.  In the coming weeks I will be expanding on the changes that take place in our forties, the tests we need for this age group, as well as vitamins and supplements.  It is that time of year when reassessment takes place as a birthday approaches.  For me, it means turning 49 on April 3rd.   

Bonnie is a freelance writer/editor that has many Autism Family Adventures and writes about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Feel free to read her articles on Feeding Teens over at Foodie Mama. 

Related posts:

1. Skin Care in Your 30s
2. Helping Your Teen With Skin Care
3. Skin Changes During Pregnancy
4. Embrace Your Forties