The Skin Pause

What does “clean beauty” really mean, and is it enough for midlife skin?In this episode of The Skin Pause, I sit down with Kari Gran, founder of Kari Gran, to explore the philosophy behind green beauty, the power of oil-based skincare, and how to think about skincare in a more intentional way, especially in your 40s and beyond.If you’ve ever looked at your skincare routine and wondered why it suddenly stopped working, this conversation connects the dots between evolving skin biology and the products we choose to use.Kari shares how her personal experience with dry, hormonally changing skin, and autoimmune conditions, led her to build a line rooted in simplicity, barrier support, and sensory experience. We dive into the science and nuance of plant oils, the importance of formulation (not DIY), and how to approach skincare in a way that prioritizes health over perfection.At the same time, we explore where clean beauty fits into a broader skincare strategy, and how to thoughtfully incorporate clinically proven actives like vitamin C, peptides, and retinoids alongside oil-based products.This is a grounded, practical conversation about building a routine that aligns with your values and delivers real results.Instagram: @karigranskinEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

K-beauty has taken the global skincare world by storm—and for good reason.From glass skin to multi-step routines, it offers a refreshing, thoughtful approach to caring for the skin. But what truly sets K-beauty apart isn’t just the products—it’s the philosophy behind them.In this episode, I share what I learned exploring K-beauty firsthand in South Korea—from walking the aisles of Olive Young to seeing how deeply skincare is integrated into daily life—and how we can thoughtfully apply those principles to midlife skin.We’ll talk about what K-beauty gets right, where it may need to be adapted, and how to build a routine that supports your skin’s function, not just its appearance.Because in midlife, skincare isn’t just about glow.It’s about supporting your skin as a vital, living organ.What You’ll LearnWhy K-beauty is rooted in philosophy—not just productsThe power of prevention, consistency, and daily careWhat the skin barrier actually is—and how to support itWhy hydration and barrier repair matter more than everHow to thoughtfully incorporate K-beauty into a midlife routineIngredients K-beauty does especially wellWhat may need to be added for midlife skin (actives + hormones)The difference between “glass skin” and truly healthy skinEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

Perimenopause is finally being talked about—but not always with humor.In this episode, I sit down with comedian and content creator Matt Hyams, whose viral videos impersonating his perimenopausal wife have struck a nerve with millions of women (and quite a few men). What started as a single Instagram video quickly became a cultural moment, with women flooding the comments saying, “I am her.”So what is it about these videos that resonates so deeply?Is it the humor? The validation? Or the rare glimpse into how partners experience the hormonal shifts of midlife?In this conversation, we explore what happens when comedy meets a topic that, until recently, was barely discussed at all—and why laughter might actually be one of the most powerful tools we have in navigating this phase of life.Instagram / TikTok / YouTube / Facebook: @MattHyamsWebsite: matthyams.comEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

Hair loss is one of the most distressing symptoms women experience in midlife—and one of the least talked about.Many women expect hot flashes when they enter perimenopause. They don’t expect their ponytail to get smaller, their part to widen, or to suddenly see more scalp in photos.In this solo episode of The Skin Pause Podcast, board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner Dr. Corinne Erickson breaks down why hair loss becomes so common in the perimenopausal years—and what women can actually do about it.You’ll learn:Why estrogen decline and androgen signaling affect hair folliclesThe difference between female pattern hair loss and telogen effluviumWhy heavy periods in perimenopause can contribute to hair thinningThe key labs that may be helpful to checkWhen inflammatory or scarring hair loss should be evaluated quicklyEvidence-based treatments including minoxidil, spironolactone, and other optionsStyling strategies to protect hair while it regrowsHair loss myths (including the truth about biotin)Hair loss in midlife is common—but that doesn’t mean it’s something women simply have to accept.Understanding the underlying causes is the first step toward stabilizing hair loss and supporting healthy regrowth.Enjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

Menopause doesn’t happen in isolation.For many women, it arrives during one of the most demanding phases of life — when careers are peaking, leadership responsibilities are expanding, children still need support, and aging parents require care.At the exact moment women are expected to perform at their highest level, their biology is shifting beneath them.In this episode, Dr. Corinne Erickson sits down with Dr. Jada Moore-Ruffin, board-certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, to explore the intersection of menopause, metabolism, hormones, and professional performance.Together they discuss:How menopause symptoms affect high-achieving women in the workplaceWhy many symptoms are misdiagnosed or treated individually rather than hormonallyThe role of hormone optimization in midlife healthHow GLP-1 medications work and who benefits mostThe importance of lifestyle strategies alongside medicationThe connection between insulin resistance, inflammation, and chronic diseaseWhy a holistic approach to health is essential in midlifeDr. Moore-Ruffin also shares a powerful patient story that highlights what can happen when women receive the right metabolic and hormonal support.Because midlife isn’t a decline — it’s a recalibration.Dr. Jada Moore-Ruffin's Instagram: @drjadamdEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

Midlife brings change.But when new joint pain, fatigue, stiffness, dryness, and inflammation appear during perimenopause, many women are left wondering:Is this menopause? Or is something deeper happening?In this episode of The Skin Pause, Dr. Corinne Erickson sits down with Dr. Mala Kaul, board-certified rheumatologist and founder of Integra Health in Atlanta, to unpack one of the most confusing intersections in women’s health.They discuss:Why menopause and autoimmune diseases share so many symptomsRed flags that suggest inflammatory arthritis rather than hormone shiftsWhy Google at 2:00 AM is not your friendThe real science behind estrogen and immune functionWhy hormone therapy is not a treatment for autoimmune diseaseThe impact of chronic inflammation and steroids on bone healthWhen to get a DEXA scanVitamin D and immune regulationDiet, elimination plans, and what the evidence actually supportsWhy muscle, balance, and strength are critical for fracture preventionThe importance of personalized, integrative careThis episode is a powerful reminder that:Not all midlife symptoms are “just menopause.”But not everything is autoimmune either.Sorting that out requires experience, pattern recognition, and thoughtful evaluation — not fear-based medicine or social media soundbites.Instagram: @integrahealthmdEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

Lifting heavy in perimenopause can feel intimidating, especially if you’re more comfortable on a treadmill than in the weight room.In this episode, I’m joined by midlife fitness expert Tracy Steen (Move Daily) to break down how women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond can build muscle safely, sustainably, and without burnout.We cover: • How to start strength training (without being too sore to move tomorrow) • The truth about “pink weights” • Protein targets that are actually realistic • Creatine, the pink tax, and what you really need • Why your future 70-year-old self depends on what you do nowStrength isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about longevity, bone density, metabolic health, and showing up strong for the life you want to live.Tracy's Instagram: @movedailyfitnessEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

What happens when the person on one side of the prescription pad sits down with the person on the other?In this episode, Dr. Corinne Erickson speaks with Dr. Hollie Wakelyn, board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and founder of Menopause Pharmacist LLC, about what’s really happening at the pharmacy counter in the evolving world of menopause care.From estrogen patch shortages to testosterone prescribing barriers, compounded hormone confusion, and bioidentical marketing myths — this conversation brings clarity to a space that often feels unnecessarily complicated.How to find her:menopausepharmacist.orgInstagram & TikTok: @menopausepharmacistorgEnjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

Perimenopause doesn’t come with a roadmap, and for too many women, it doesn’t even come with a warning.In this episode of The Skin Pause, Dr. Corinne Erickson is joined by Melissa Oliviera, co-founder of HotPause Health, for a deeply honest and empowering conversation about what women are actually experiencing in midlife, including why so many feel confused, dismissed, or completely alone.Melissa shares how her own perimenopause journey, combined with her background in digital health and prevention, led her to build HotPause Health alongside her co-founder Stacy Ulacia. What started as a search for credible information turned into a trusted platform offering evidence-based education, vetted providers, and community support for women navigating one of the most biologically complex phases of life.Together, Corinne and Melissa unpack the realities of menopause that rarely make it into exam rooms or mainstream conversations—from rage and anxiety to frozen shoulder, skin changes, incontinence, and identity shifts. They also tackle the long-lasting fallout from the Women’s Health Initiative, the fear surrounding hormone therapy, and why treating symptoms instead of sources has failed an entire generation of women.This episode is equal parts education, validation, and call-to-action for women, providers, and partners alike.Please find our article, Men's Guide to Menopause that you can use across your various owned channels. It includes the PDF download that can also be used to support our conversation around the Men's Guide to Menopause. Enjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com

In this solo episode of The Skin Pause, Dr. Corinne Erickson—board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner—takes a careful, evidence-based look at one of the most common and controversial questions she hears from patients and colleagues alike: Should estrogen creams be used on the face for skin health? This episode is not a protocol, recommendation, or one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, it is a review of what the scientific literature shows, where limitations exist, and how clinicians and patients can think clearly and responsibly when evidence is evolving.Important Notes & DisclaimersThis episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.Dr. Erickson is not promoting specific products, does not financially benefit from topical estrogen formulations discussed, and has no industry relationships related to facial estrogen products.Use of estrogen on the face is off-label. Any hormone-based therapy should involve individualized discussion with a qualified healthcare professional.Study data discussed includes small clinical trials, observational studies, and mechanistic research. Large, long-term randomized trials specific to facial estrogen use are limited.Estrogen receptors are present throughout the skin. Both estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta are expressed in cutaneous tissues. ER-β predominates in many skin compartments and appears to mediate several local cutaneous effects, while ER-α plays a larger role in estrogen’s proliferative effects in reproductive tissues such as the uterus and breast. Receptor presence does not imply uniform function, and tissue response depends on dose, formulation, and route of exposure.Download the complete reference PDF: theskinpause.com/topical-estrogen-pdfSchmidt JB, Binder M, Demschik G, et al. Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens. Int J Dermatol. 1996;35(9):669–674.Schmidt JB, Binder M, Macheiner W, et al. Treatment of skin aging symptoms in perimenopausal females with estrogen compounds. Maturitas. 1994;20:25–30.Kainz C, Gitsch G, Stani J, et al. When applied to facial skin, does estrogen ointment have systemic effects? Arch Gynecol Obstet. 1993;253:71–74.Brincat MP. Skin and menopause. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2000;1(4):191–200.Brincat M, Moniz CF, Studd JWW. Long-term effects of the menopause and sex hormones on skin thickness. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1985;92:256–259.Callens A, Vaillant L, Lecomte P, et al. Does hormonal ageing exist? Br J Dermatol. 1996;135(5):770–775.Thornton MJ. Estrogens and aging skin. Dermato-Endocrinology. 2013;5(2):264–270.Verdier-Sévrain S, Bonte F, Gilchrest B. Biology of estrogens in skin. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15(2):83–94.Ashcroft GS, Greenwell-Wild T, Horan MA, et al. Estrogen accelerates cutaneous wound healing. Nat Med. 1999;5(11):1209–1215.Draelos ZD. Phytoestrogens and skin aging. Dermatol Ther. 2007;20(5):305–310.Lephart ED. Equol’s anti-aging effects via estrogen receptor beta activation. Rejuvenation Res. 2016;19(4):290–299.Draelos ZD. A double-blind randomized pilot study evaluating topical methyl estradiolpropanoate (MEP). J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(11):1186–1189.Cohen J, Downie J. An open-label study evaluating periorbital rejuvenation with MEP in estrogen-deficient skin.Enjoy 15% off Dr. Erickson's recommended peri/menopause skincare with code PAUSE15Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneericksonWebsite: theskinpause.com