Shereene Idriss, a board-certified dermatologist, explains how the luteal phase triggers oil, clogged pores, sensitivity, and redness. In the mid-40s, these cyclical changes compound with age-related shifts, making people suddenly look older.
So you're telling me that all women have the thing where you wake up ugly one day out of nowhere? Truly thought that only happened to me. You don't know. She's not wrong. The joys of being a woman. I'm a board certified dermatologist. My focus is on cosmetics. I've been in practice for over 10 years and there are two stories here. One is a long term view where, yes, overnight, you feel like you've aged. And chances are you have aged. And that happens in your mid-40s. You wake up, you don't recognize yourself. But the other sad reality is this happens to every menstruating female every two weeks. It's known as the luteal phase, the phase between ovulation and right before you get your period where your body has a surge in progesterone and that can lead to increased oil production, clogged pores, increased skin sensitivity. A lucky few might appear glowy because progesterone does increase the flow of blood. But for most people, most myself included, I just become red, ruddy and kind of look more dehydrated.
3 Ways I Prevent Post-Menopause Skin Issues + What Really Helps Elasticity After 50
