Buckle up! This is a long one!
Happy New Year! After much contemplation I decided it was time to be more transparent and let you all get to know me on a personal level. I wanted to share some recent experiences that has made me grateful for this journey into aesthetics and wellness.
It all started after the birth of our youngest child. This story probably sounds familiar because many women struggle with infertility and we were grateful to have only suffered one lost pregnancy along the way, with two healthy children at home. Falling victim to illness as a healthcare worker is a hazard of the job. I had a severe illness with Influenza A when I was 11 weeks pregnant with our youngest. The Mayo Clinic believes this is what started a cascade of autoimmune health events to follow. Long story short, I now have asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Asthma only bothers me when I am ill, but the RA tries to steal my hope on a near daily basis.
I am a practicing Catholic, and I find my life’s joy in my husband and children, so RA doesn’t get to steal my joy. Living with chronic pain and health issues can make one weary and some days are hard. With a family history full of genetics that are not on my side, I make it a priority to keep up with all of the health screenings pertinent to my age and family history.
Menopause is something we often hear about, but until you go through it, it’s hard to truly grasp the impact it can have. For me, it wasn’t a gradual process—it came suddenly when I had to undergo surgery that thrust me into surgical menopause overnight. This was not something that was planned, but rather the only way to ensure a healthy future. I want to share my experience and how it affected my skin, hair, and joints because I know many others may be navigating a similar path, surgical or natural.
The Skin Rollercoaster
One of the first changes I noticed was in my skin. Estrogen plays such a vital role in keeping our skin hydrated, firm, and resilient. I always had very combination skin. When I lost that estrogen overnight, my skin seemed to lose its glow just as quickly. It became drier, almost paper-thin in certain areas, and I started seeing fine lines that seemed to deepen faster than before. I felt like I was aging in fast-forward, and that was tough to face, especially working in the beauty industry.
The loss of collagen is a major factor in this, and collagen production drops dramatically without estrogen. I had to change my skincare routine significantly, incorporating more moisture and collagen-stimulating treatments to give my skin the support it was now lacking. At You Turn Skin Care, I began to really value treatments like microneedling and Tixel, which help restore some of the plumpness and elasticity I felt I had lost.
Hair: Thinning and Shedding
Another aspect that hit me hard was the effect on my hair. This remains a daily battle. I always thought hair thinning was something I wouldn’t have to think about for a long time, but surgical menopause had other plans. My hair became noticeably thinner, and the shedding was alarming at times. The texture changed too—it felt more brittle, drier, and lost some of the shine it used to have. I recently resorted to shortening the length to try and minimize the stringy appearance of my long, once full head of hair.
I realized that my scalp needed as much attention as my skin. I started using peptide-infused hair serums, ensuring I was getting enough protein in my diet, and supplementing with collagen and Votesse supplements. It took a while, and it’s still a work in progress, but I’ve seen improvements. And more importantly, I’ve learned to be gentle and patient with myself during this process.
The OB that I see was sympathetic to my situation, but made it seem more like a dreaded rite of passage into some kind of club that I didn’t ask to belong to. While I pleaded for some sort of solution, I felt defeated in my pursuit of answers.
The Unrelenting Fatigue
Perhaps the most unexpected—and certainly one of the most challenging—parts of menopause for me was and still is the fatigue. It wasn’t just feeling a bit tired at the end of the day; it was a bone-deep exhaustion that seemed to linger no matter how much rest I got. I felt like I was carrying around an invisible weight, and it affected every aspect of my life, from my work to my relationships.
Without the stabilizing effects of estrogen, my sleep patterns became erratic. I found myself waking up several times during the night, either drenched in sweat from hot flashes or just unable to settle back into sleep. As someone who’s always been active and on-the-go, this level of fatigue was both mentally and physically draining.
I quickly realized that pushing through it wasn’t an option—I had to adjust. I started paying closer attention to my sleep hygiene. That meant creating a bedtime routine that helped me wind down: reducing screen time, keeping my bedroom cool and dark, and even practicing meditation, deep breathing, or grounding before bed. I also found that supplements like magnesium helped promote a sense of calm and improved my sleep quality. I purchased a Higher Dose PEMF mat which helped with my increased joint pain and inflammation as well as helped me attain a better night’s sleep.
Diet and exercise also played crucial roles in managing fatigue. I started eating smaller, more frequent meals rich in proteins and healthy fats to maintain my energy levels throughout the day. Gentle exercise, like walking and my physical therapy exercises, was another important piece of the puzzle. Ironically, staying active—even when I felt too tired—helped me have more energy in the long run. It helped balance my hormones and reduce the mental fog that often accompanied the exhaustion.
Along this journey I knew that at the age of 41 I was going to need Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to give me the hormones that so many of my body’s processes need to function as normally as possible. During my recovery, I began studying HRT in men and women as well as medical weight loss. Along the way I studied peptide therapies that can help with hormones, fatigue, and longevity. It has been a very eye-opening experience to say the least.
Fatigue is something I still have to manage daily, but understanding the importance of rest—and the difference between rest and inactivity—has made a big difference. I’ve learned to listen to my body and give myself grace when I need a break. Menopause is an adjustment, and the fatigue is a constant reminder of how important it is to slow down and take care of myself in a deeper, more intentional way.
Finding Myself Again
I not only endured the adjustments into menopause but had two hip surgeries to follow as well. The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster of emotions and changes. My body has changed in ways I wasn’t fully prepared for, and it was easy to feel frustrated and even a bit betrayed by these changes. But it also forced me to pay more attention to myself—my routines, my diet, my stress levels. I had to learn to take care of my body in a different way, and that brought a sense of empowerment. I began using NAD peptide and others which have increased my energy and improved my widespread joint pain and inflammation.
If you’re going through menopause, (surgical or otherwise) know that you’re not alone. It can be a challenging journey, but there are ways to care for your skin and hair that make a difference. It’s about finding what works for your body and being patient with the process. Remember, it’s okay to reach out for help, whether it’s through a medical professional, a wellness program, or even just talking to someone who understands.
Every day, I’m learning more about how to nurture my body through this stage, and I’m grateful for the tools and knowledge we have to support this transition. My estheticians have helped me navigate the changes in my skin and hair and supported me with grace, patience and encouragement. I have even decided to embrace the increased amount of gray in my hair and focus on health.
If you’re in a similar spot, I hope sharing my experience gives you some comfort and insight. If changes in your skin and hair sounds all too familiar, come see one of the estheticians who can help you navigate hair loss with treatments and supplements to support a healthy foundation. They will share their expertise and create a supportive plan that is right for you.
It Starts with You!
Allison
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