Is Your Skin Ready for Summer Travel?
Summer is the perfect time to relax, explore new destinations, and spend more time outdoors. However, if you’re going through perimenopause or menopause, travelling during the warmer months may bring unexpected challenges. Many women notice that their skin feels drier than usual, becomes more sensitive, or develops increased redness and dark spots while they’re away. Hot flashes may also feel more intense in warm climates, making it more difficult to stay comfortable and hydrated.
The good news is that you don’t have to avoid travelling or spending time outdoors. By understanding how menopause affects your skin and taking a few practical steps before and during your trip, you can help maintain healthy, comfortable skin while enjoying everything summer has to offer.
Why Does Menopause Affect Your Skin?
Estrogen helps maintain collagen, elastin, skin hydration, and the skin barrier. As estrogen declines during perimenopause and menopause, skin naturally becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic. Natural oil production also decreases, making it more difficult for the skin to retain moisture and defend itself against environmental stressors.
Research suggests women may lose up to 30% of skin collagen during the first five years after menopause, contributing to dryness, fine lines, slower healing, increased sensitivity, and uneven pigmentation.
Why Can Summer Travel Make These Changes Worse?
Summer travel introduces additional challenges for menopausal skin. Long flights, hot climates, increased sun exposure, air-conditioned environments, and changes to your daily routine can all contribute to dryness, sensitivity, and uneven skin tone. Aircraft cabins have very low humidity, which increases water loss from the skin, while warm weather and increased sweating may worsen dehydration and make hot flashes feel more intense. Together, these factors can leave the skin feeling drier, tighter, and more sensitive.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation also accelerates collagen breakdown and contributes to premature skin aging. During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen slows collagen production and skin renewal, making years of accumulated sun damage more visible. As a result, the skin may become more prone to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and uneven pigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skin concerns women notice during menopause, particularly during the summer. Increased UV exposure stimulates melanin production as the skin’s natural defence against sun damage, which can make existing dark spots appear darker and increase the risk of developing new areas of uneven pigmentation. Common types include solar lentigines (age spots), melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, all of which may take longer to fade because menopausal skin renews itself more slowly.
Supporting Healthy Skin While Travelling
- Stay hydrated by drinking water regularly before, during, and after travel. Include water-rich foods such as watermelon, cucumber, berries, oranges, and leafy greens.
- Eat a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, olive oil, fish, nuts, and adequate protein to support collagen production and skin repair.
- Protect your skin from the sun with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, lightweight clothing, and shade whenever possible.
- Keep your skincare routine simple. Continue using products your skin already tolerates well and avoid introducing multiple new products while travelling.
- To help manage hot flashes while travelling, stay well hydrated, plan outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, wear lightweight, breathable clothing, and seek shade whenever possible. Carrying a reusable water bottle and a portable fan can also help you cool down quickly if a hot flash occurs.
When Should You Have a Dark Spot Checked?
Most age spots are harmless, but any new or changing pigmented lesion should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Watch for the ABCDE warning signs: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter greater than about 6 mm, and Evolution over time. Seek medical assessment if a spot bleeds, crusts, grows rapidly, or becomes persistently itchy or painful.
How Can Naturopathic Medicine Help?
At Sage Clinic, we take an integrative approach to menopause care by considering nutrition, hormone health, sleep, stress, gut health, physical activity, and lifestyle. Depending on your individual needs, your personalized care plan may include nutrition counselling, lifestyle recommendations, evidence-informed supplements,
acupuncture, and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) after a thorough assessment of the benefits and risks.
Final Takeaway
Travelling should be enjoyable. With thoughtful sun protection, good hydration, healthy nutrition, and a consistent skincare routine, you can support healthy skin while enjoying your summer adventures.
Contact us to book an appointment with Dr. Rooya Nikfar to learn more about her integrative approach to menopause care.
References
- Hall G, Phillips TJ. Estrogen and skin: the effects of estrogen, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on the skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;53(4):555–568.
- Thornton MJ. Estrogens and aging skin. Dermatoendocrinology. 2013;5(2):264–270.
- Verdier-Sévrain S, Bonté F, Gilchrest BA. Biology of estrogens in skin: implications for skin aging. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15(2):83–94.
- Lephart ED. A review of the role of estrogen in dermal aging and facial attractiveness in women. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;17(3):282–288.
- Roster K, Fleshner L, Karatas TB, et al. Menopause and common dermatoses: A systematic review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2026;27(1):67–84.
- Rittié L, Fisher GJ. UV-light-induced signal cascades and skin aging. Ageing Res Rev.2002;1(4):705–720.
- Pivazyan L, Avetisyan J, Loshkareva M, Abdurakhmanova A. Skin Rejuvenation in Women using Menopausal Hormone Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Menopausal Med. 2023 Dec;29(3):97-111. doi: 10.6118/jmm.22042. PMID: 38230593; PMCID: PMC10796198.
