Menopause Reshapes Skin Health from Hair Loss to Acne
A Systematic Review Suggests Menopause May Heighten Alopecia and Psoriasis Risks While Mitigating Acne and Rosacea
Menopause isn’t just a life transition—it can also impact skin health in surprising ways. A recent study from New York Medical College researchers, presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in Orlando, sheds new light on how menopause can play a major role in the presentation of common skin conditions like alopecia, psoriasis, and acne.
“Every year, millions of women experience menopause, yet its influence on many dermatoses remains understudied. By synthesizing the current evidence, we aimed to clarify how menopause affects common skin conditions, enabling clinicians to provide more informed care,” says senior study author Shoshana Marmon, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology.
For their review, Dr. Marmon and co-authors examined 33 studies related to menopause and highly prevalent skin conditions. They found that menopause increases the risk and severity of alopecia, specifically frontal fibrosing alopecia and female pattern hair loss, while psoriasis may experience flare-ups during this time. Acne generally improves post-menopause, and rosacea appears to decrease in risk or severity. Eczema is prevalent, whereas data on hidradenitis suppurativa and melasma are inconsistent, highlighting the need for further research.
“Recognizing which dermatoses can worsen or improve during the menopausal period and beyond will help clinicians better tailor prevention and treatment strategies,” says Dr. Marmon.
One key gap is understanding how menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) influences these conditions. MHT typically uses estrogen and/or progesterone to alleviate hot flashes, night sweats and other menopausal symptoms. Dr. Marmon and her team are now conducting a review focused on MHT’s impact, which may help clarify the therapy’s risks and benefits for patients with underlying dermatoses.
“Women should feel comfortable discussing any concerning cutaneous issues associated with this pivotal midlife transition, and clinicians should recognize the many ways in which menopause affects the skin,” she says. “A better understanding of hormone-driven dermatologic changes will enable us to provide more personalized, evidence-based care.”
