Lost that youthful bloom? Find out how hormonal changes impact on your skin.

The reduced levels of oestrogen that occur during the menopause also cause visible physical changes. Your skin may start to look lack lustre with wrinkles and dry patches becoming more noticeable; your hair and nails too may become drier and more brittle. Dark circles under the eyes may become more obvious and the mouth and gums can be more susceptible to infection and mouth ulcers. This is all due to the disintegration of collagen fibres and the weakening of the protein elastin, which gives connective tissue its strength and suppleness.

Many women also suffer from a skin condition called, formication, during the menopause. This is caused by the deterioration of nerve endings in ageing skin, making the skin feel tingly and intensely itchy and can last for a couple of years.