How can you tell if you are perimenopausal?

Knowing if you’re perimenopausal is usually something that becomes clear gradually rather than as a result of one single thing.

Symptoms may include:

• A persistent change in the length of your menstrual cycle
• If you have spaces of more than 60 days between your periods
• Disrupted sleep
• Hot flushes
• A lower sex drive
• Discomfort during sex
• Fatigue
• Worsening PMS 

Does skin change during perimenopause?

Perimenopause does affect the skin, but as with all things, some women experience more obvious or acute changes than others. For some, it’s just a gradual ageing process, but for others there can be short and long-term changes, some of which are more uncomfortable than others. Changing hormones can mean that:

• Skin becomes more sensitive
• It may respond unpredictably to treatments and products
• It can change and either become dry or prone to breakouts
• If you have hot flushes, you might find that your skin gets a bit red
• Skin that was previously balanced might start to get dry or oily
• Some women experience rosacea

As menopause progresses, the drop in collagen and hormonal changes can also make wrinkles more likely or more prominent, skin might become dry and generally less plump.