In Focus: Why Your Skin Changes in Midlife

If your skin has started to feel like it belongs to someone else - drier, duller, slower to recover - you’re not imagining it.In this In Focus episode, Dr Natalie Hutchins sits down with consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall to talk through what is happening to skin in midlife, and why. They cover the science of collagen loss around menopause, the role oestrogen plays in skin hydration, elasticity and even antioxidant protection, and why the gut microbiome may matter more to your complexion than your 10-step routine. Dr Hextall also shares what she considers truly non-negotiable for midlife skin. Unsurprisingly, the list is much shorter than the beauty industry would have you believe.This episode is part of our In Focus series: shorter, topic-led conversations designed to give you real clinical insight.⚠️ For medical education only. Please consult your doctor or dermatologist for personalised advice.Thanks for reading The Woman's Handbook! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewomanshandbook.substack.com