Menopause is increasingly (finally!) being a much talked health topic, still with many women reporting difficulty accessing help through their GP’s.
Many aesthetic nurses, including myself, are happy to step up to support and assist our patients in this area, as it impacts on all area of our lives, not just accelerating our skin ageing.
Menopause is still diagnosed by the medical profession as being 12 months without having a period. Then you are menopausal, and you will ‘go through it and ‘come out the other side’ over varying time periods, with many different symptoms.
Although women can have menopausal symptom’s for the rest of their lives.
Peri-menopause is the term for when you are leading up to the menopause.
This can vary wildly on the individual, from age 20’s, 30’s, most definitely in the 40’s.
The ‘usual age’ for menopause diagnosis is 52, however this again varies.
With the help of Dr Marion Gluck, Dr Louise Newson, and the celebrities Davina McCall and Liz Earle (amongst many others) – female hormonal health has been highlighted as a crucial topic into the mainstream media.
Early detection and treatment of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) as well as lifestyle changes can now be offered way before you hit the menopause.
This is the second conference that is completely focused on menopause, the first one was last year, which I watched via the live stream.
This year I wanted to go in person, to further educate and continue to integrate menopause support and education to my patients in clinic. I travelled down to the Business Design Centre in Islington. There was a large area for exhibitor stands and sponsors. The Agenda for the day was jam packed with expert speakers.
The comprehensive programme covered many areas including –
- Navigating the Consultation.
- How blood testing can be used in the management of menopausal concerns.
- Safeguarding.
- Optimising hormonal health with testosterone replacement.
- The impact of menopause on cancer patients.
- The life-changing impact of hormone replacement therapy.
- Navigation the ‘manopause’ – male hormones and andropause.
- Advancements in treating female sexual dysfunction.
- Alleviating menopausal-related bladder concerns.
- Skin changes in menopause.
- Polynucleotides for skin rebirth.
- Biohacking menopause – the role of NAD.
- Exosomes in treating menopause related hair loss.
I was excited to see the presentation on Polynucleotides by Dr Raquel Amado, a highly regarded, award winning medical aesthetic practitioner.
Having being trained in PhilArt Polynucleotides (PN) since last May 2023, I have incorporated it into my clinic for my patients. It is unique in its properties, utilising the purified DNA of Italian trout. This is sterilised to produce the pure PN to inject into the skin.
Clinical studies have shown the marked increase in restoring and improving fibroblasts = cellular repair and regeneration. This is turn helps your skin make more collagen. Also that the collagen fibres were better organised and structured within the skin. It also increases your own hyaluronic acid which is a lubricator and hydrator to the skin.
The PN have shown to cause melanogenesis inhibition, reducing brown/darker areas. Also an anti-inflammatory effect for patients suffering from increased skin sensitivity, acne, spots, itchiness and irritation.
PN can be used for many different skin conditions, initially, a course of three sessions over 2-3 months.
There is also a specific PN for around the eye area, which is injected in the upper skin layers, as an alternative to having traditional dermal fillers.
The suitability for each patient is discussed after a full consultation/health check and facial assessment.
