Before explaining why menopause leads to a loss of skin firmness, it is necessary to understand the role of hormones.
Under the influence of estrogens, the fibroblasts present in the dermis synthesize more collagen fibers, elastin, as well as hyaluronic acid, providing the skin with improved density, elasticity, and firmness. Additionally, the estrogens increase the number of keratinocytes whose role is to synthesize keratin, a protein that protects the skin.
The role of progesterone in skin health is still not well understood. It appears that it increases sebum secretion.Furthermore, progesterone has a known anti-androgenic effect.
Thus, at the time of menopause, the cessation of ovarian activity leads to a drop inestrogen and therefore a decrease in fibroblastic activity. The skin loses density, elasticity, and firmness.
Beyond this loss in firmness, the loss of hyaluronic acid and the inactivity of the sebaceous glands, the skin generates a dehydration and a weakening of the hydrolipidic film. This results from the deficiency in progesterone. The skin then becomes more sensitive to external aggressions and to transepidermal dehydration.