Emer O'Callaghan: No two women are the same when it comes to menopause

I have been working in the beauty industry for 25 years, and know only too well how some ladies suffer a lot more than others with female issues. Issues such as periods and the menopause are talked about a lot more nowadays.

I was born in the 1980s and was the only girl in a house of all boys - the word period was not mentioned ever, I just got on with it. I was still thrown in goal every night after our dinner so the boys could play soccer outside - nothing was ever made of female issues then like today.

I remember I fainted one day in Mass and my brothers lifted me out. As I came round, they said I was white as a ghost, and an old man gave me a Fishermen’s Friend sweet. I’d never had one before and he said: “That will get you up, girlineen.”

It nearly blew the head off me, but it got me up and the boys thought it was hilarious of course.

I got home and my mum cooked me some liver for iron and there was no more made of it, but I now know that I must try to eat red meat once or twice a week one week a month to help my iron levels.

We know so much more about our bodies today due to science and the fact research and modern medicine is constantly evolving.

But one thing that does annoy me on research papers I read - and trust me, I read a lot - is how so much of the research is done on a male anatomy. The female body is different and that needs to be researched and studied too so we can learn what is going on internally.

That hasn’t stopped the marketing companies targeting women and our reproductive changes and health. In the past five years alone, the marketing machines have gone into overdrive on this, everywhere you look there are products or supplements for the perimenopause and menopause.

I honestly don’t know how our ancestors did it, our great-grandmothers and grandmothers all went through the same bodily changes as you and I, and did so in a time of no HRT, no medication for hormones, and no blood checks. They had no clue of their iron levels or bone health, and also no modern sanitary products as we do today. They certainly had no internet or smartphones to ask Doctor Google, they just got up and got on with it.

These matters were not discussed, they where private, and that was wrong too; many a woman suffered in silence and needed help.

Many of my clients aged over 70 tell me how menopause was called ‘The Change’ in their day and no-one ever spoke about these female matters openly with anyone - not even their husbands. Fast forward to today, and men talk as openly as women do now about female issues, and we are all far too fond of over-sharing if you ask me.

There are so many changes that occur both in the body and skin when going through menopause, as the oestrogen and progesterone decrease as we age.

These decreasing sex hormones do affect our body and skin. Our collagen in the face and muscle mass in the body decreases and so many people start to look older - but thankfully, in the modern age of beauty we live in, we are spoiled for choice as to the many ways we can prevent this.

I am all about preserving natural beauty, and will never promote cosmetic treatments and procedures.

I see every day in my clinic how our new and advanced non-invasive facials and the newest scientifically proven serums and products are turning back the clock and making people look a decade or two younger without all the botox and injections.

The truth is the majority of Irish women still do not want invasive surgery and want to age naturally, while making the best of the non-invasive options.

So many women of menopausal age will experience hormonal acne. I have a fantastic track record in clearing all forms of acne, but particularly hormonal acne, with my personalised skin care plans.

Lots of other ladies get sensitive skin and rosacea, which is a form of acne noticeable by its high red colouring of the skin.

Many others experience severe dry skin, both in the face and body, and this is in fact quite common.

Dry skin forms fine lines, and fine lines form wrinkles, and this is why so many prematurely age faster when their dry skin never gets the correct treatment.

Weaker nails and hair, as well as hair loss, are also common during this time, and many feel they no longer can wear foundation as it just seeps into all the fine lines and makes them look like they have deep wrinkles. This is why alternatives like our popular Guinot Tinted Moisturiser are a best buy always for my clients of this age. They get the full coverage of a make-up but it’s just a tinted moisturiser.

Joint pain, poor and broken sleep, night sweats, irritability, poor concentration, tired eyes, and aching limbs are just a few on the very many symptoms so many women experience during the menopausal years.

Doctors say you must be a full year with no period to be classed as being through the menopause.

While many ladies find this such a liberating time in their lives, many others don’t, and we are all different in not just how we feel about things but how our bodies work too. No two women are the same and we must all try and be mindful and respectful of others as not everyone finds things as easy as others.

I remember years ago doing a screening form on a client and one of the questions asked was are you in menopause? This lovely lady asked me what it was and I thought she was joking, so I gave her the fast gist of it, still thinking she was messing.

I always laugh when I think of it as she had ticked that she had eight children all grown up and she was well into her sixties. She said: “Oh that, sure I never got that,” and it still makes me laugh today. I’d say many women would love to have her symptomless menopause, that’s for sure.

Weight gain and fluid retention in the face and body are also common symptoms of menopause. I know ladies who say they never had any weight on them until they hit menopause. Lots of gyms will market to this age group, as weight lifting and daily cardio will address this.

Thinning of hair and tooth loss are also symptoms of menopause.

I cannot stress enough the importance of getting your full bloods done by your GP every six months to truly know what level your hormones are at and what you may be lacking.

So many women of perimenopausal and menopausal age tell me how tired they feel all the time, and this is why I am a huge advocate of being on a good probiotic and multi-vitamin routine for your age. I take the Clean Marine female multi-vitamin daily.

• Emer O’Callaghan won Irish Beauty Therapist Of The Year and works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A multi award winning Gold Standard Centre of Excellence, 2008-2026, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie, follow us on Facebook/Instagram/TikTok.
• SPECIAL OFFER: All next week, our award-winning Dermalogica Pro 60 facial, 90 minutes, is 10% off, includes skin analysis, eyebrow shape, samples and treats. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. Free parking for clients.