Autumn Cultivates Drier Skin

Although hot flashes and brain fog haven’t really been my personal perimenopause issues, two things that did rise up in my life are dry skin and waking up at 3 a.m. like clockwork — and yes, dry skin is something that can also be an issue during the autumn season. As far as perimenopause goes, if your skin can’t seem to get enough moisture, it’s probably because of the combination of your estrogen levels dropping along with your skin becoming thinner (which makes it harder for it to retain moisture) over time.

Then, if you add to this the fact that autumn weather has less humidity, you’re usually wearing fabrics like wool, taking hot showers and then turning on the heat in your home which results in dry, hot air blowing on you for hours on end — definitely make sure to have a humidifier on in your bedroom at night, to take warm instead of hot showers and that you seal your skin once you get out of it.

Oh, and eat the kind of foods that will moisturize your skin from the inside out. Check out “These Foods Will Give Your Skin & Hair The Moisture They Crave” for a list of some of those.

Autumn Can Impact Your Moods

While reading an article on menopause rage, I thought about the fact that it really is underestimated, all that a woman’s hormones go through during perimenopause. One of the things that the piece stated (that is quite legit) is, as your estrogen levels start to drop, that can do a number on your serotonin levels (a brain chemical that affects moods, sleep and your sex drive) too — and boy, when that happens, it can have you on a real emotional roller coaster ride (sometimes).

Know what else can do that? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is a pretty big deal for some during the fall. Since (with the help of time change) the days are shorter and there is less natural light that people are able to receive, that can trigger depression (or depression-related symptoms) in some individuals. Not to mention the fact that your system naturally produces more melatonin when it’s dark which can cause you to drag and feel more fatigued.

As far as the perimenopausal side of this, plant-based, estrogen-enriched foods (known as phytoestrogens) can help to bring more estrogen into your body. Some of those foods include carrots, oranges, red clover tea, broccoli and coffee. As far as SAD is concerned, you can combat that with the help of an official diagnosis by a licensed professional.

Beyond that, spend as much time in natural light as much as you possibly can; consider investing in what is known as a SAD light therapy lamp; take a vitamin D supplement (it’s an all-natural mood regulator); create and/or maintain a consistent exercise regimen, and do your best to keep stress at a minimum (especially during the holiday season).

Autumn Will Probably “Adjust” Your Libido

Anyone who told you that you have to kiss your sex life (or even the quality of your sex life) goodbye after menopause is someone who should see their doctor (to check on their physical health) and/or a sex therapist (check out “Have You Ever Wondered If You Should See A Sex Therapist?”). Listen, the reason why I’ve written articles for the platform like “What Having Sex After Menopause Is Like, According To 10 Women” is because there are PLENTY of women out here who are having AMAZING sex post-menopause.

Still, that doesn’t mean that the transition within the perimenopause period doesn’t come with a few bumps in the road. That’s because a drop in sex hormones can sometimes result in less (natural) lubrication, a harder time getting aroused and less (genital) sensitivity in some women while it can actually cause the sex drive to skyrocket in others (if their estrogen and progesterone levels end up fluctuating on the higher end).

For similar reasons, autumn can alter your libido a bit too. That’s because it’s been proven that testosterone levels typically increase in both men and women during the fall season. Not to mention the fact that certain fall-themed foods (like pumpkin, pears and butternut squash) are aphrodisiacs and the cooler it is outdoors, the better a man’s sperm tends to be.

Autumn Can Cause Hair Loss

I’m telling you — estrogen plays such a pivotal role in a woman’s overall health and well-being. Take your hair, for example. If you’ve been noticing that your locks are shedding more than usual or that they are thinning out in some areas, it could be because a drop in estrogen has shortened your hair growth phase.

And how in the world could the autumn season play a role in hair loss? Actually, I wrote an article on this very thing last year. If you read “We Shed More Hair During The Fall. Here's What To Do About It.,” you’ll peep that autumn can trigger hair loss due to the fact that your hair goes through more shedding in the fall so that, hopefully, you will grow more hair in the winter (in order to protect your hair from winter’s cold).

Problem is, if you’re going through perimenopause and the fall season at the same time, you could see way more shedding than usual. Some hacks for this? Reduce the amount of heat that you apply to your hair (including hot oil treatments). Limit the hairstyles that cause tension (like ponytails that are always in the same spot on your head or tight braids; especially around your edges).

Try to keep harsh chemical usage to a minimum including relaxers and hair dyes. And definitely give yourself scalp massages and use a volumizing shampoo.

Autumn Might Jack Up Your Sleep Patterns

Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are all hormones that are influx during perimenopause. Unfortunately, since they also tend to send conflicting messages to the neurotransmitters in your brain during this time, that’s why they can disrupt your sleep whenever you’re going through this season of your life. Not to mention the fact that few folks find it easy to stay asleep when they feel like they are burning up and hot flashes are a very common symptom of perimenopause (especially the latter stages of it).

Interestingly enough, trying to sleep during the autumn season poses to be a challenge for many people too. From the potential for feeling depressed and your melatonin levels being all over the place (due to you being exposed to less sunlight) to your immune system being challenged by flu bugs and viruses (sleep quality is virtually shot when you’re sick) and even consuming more comfort food which can make you prone to napping which can make it challenging to sleep throughout the night — all of this can have you tossing and turning all night long, if you’re not careful.

As far as what you can do to make sleeping easier during perimenopause, creating a consistent exercise routine is always a good idea. So is setting your thermostat to around 68 degrees so that you don’t find yourself experiencing hot sweats quite so much. And what about combating autumn-related sleep issues? Spend more time outdoors (when the sun is out) so that you can naturally set your circadian rhythm (which is your body’s internal clock). Be intentional about keeping your immune system strong, so that you don’t have to try to fall asleep while you have a cold or the flu.

Keep a sleep schedule, so that you don’t nap too much during the day or oversleep at night (since it does get darker quicker; especially once time “falls back” an hour).

Autumn May Increase Your Appetite

If it seems like you are gaining weight faster than ever (or it’s harder for you to lose weight than it used to be), it’s probably not in your head. The reality is that, during perimenopause, as your estrogen and progesterone decline, that can do a real number on your metabolism which can make it easier to pack on the pounds; especially if you work a job that keeps you seated most of the time and you don’t work out regularly (because perimenopause can also cause you to lose muscle mass as well). And all of this doesn’t even touch on the fact that your mood swings may cause you to want to emotionally comfort yourself with food while the shifts in your hormones may trigger certain cravings as well.

Autumn? Remember how we talked about SAD (seasonal affective disorder) earlier? If it starts to affect you on some levels, it can also bring about cravings and increase your appetite. And since it’s colder outside and you may not be moving around and about as much, well, from the junk food that may bring you joy, the late-night snacking that might be your thing and/or all of the holiday food that you might be consuming — some health experts say that most people will gain anywhere between 1-7 pounds during this time of the year.

Whether your appetite has increased due to perimenopause and/or autumn — drink water and infused water to help to quell your desire for food (and detox your system); snack on foods that are healthy and full of water like cucumber, zucchini, celery, peaches, yogurt, broccoli, grapefruit, apples and grapes. Studies show that essential oils like bergamot, mint and cinnamon can help to suppress your appetite while eating more protein can help you to feel fuller for a longer period of time and fiber can clean out your system quicker.

Autumn Could Make You Less Motivated

Fluctuating hormones can lead to a lack of sleep and a lack of sleep can uptick your stress levels — and when that happens during perimenopause, you could end up with what is known as brain fog. Brain fog is what happens when you find yourself forgetting things, you have trouble concentrating and/or you don’t feel very motivated or inspired to do much. A part of what is causing all of this to happen is because estrogen and testosterone are essential when it comes to cognitive function and when their levels drop, your mind isn’t working at an optimal pace.

Interestingly enough, changes in weather during the fall and wintertime can lead to fatigue, headaches, irritability, a lack of concentration and the ability to make the best decisions (which might be why cuffing season is so “big” during the autumn season).

As far as perimenopause goes — exercise, meditation and consuming more antioxidants are all things that can help your brain to get back on track. If your brain fog is more about the cooler weather — getting more rest, reducing your stress and, believe it or not, drinking more water (because water contains oxygen and that is something that your brain thrives on) can help to bring about some immediate relief.

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I know, right? Who would’ve thought that perimenopause and autumn would be out here mimicking each other (as far as certain symptoms go). Now that you know how they do, prepare.

That way, you can enjoy all of what the fall season has to offer — without letting what I just mentioned get in your way. Perimenopause or weather-wise.

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