📌 Key Takeaways
- Galderma surveyed 4,300+ peri- and post-menopausal women (ages 45–60)
across 9 countries on 5 continents,
presented at IMCAS World Congress, Paris, January 30, 2026. - More than 50% said they had no idea menopause would change their skin
until it actually happened to them. - Over 30% said they wished they had known in their 30s.
Women reported an average of 3 distinct skin changes
since the onset of menopause. - Galderma announced it will begin recording menopausal status
in its injectable aesthetics clinical trials —
acknowledging a long-standing data gap.
The headline finding from Galderma’s global survey,
presented at IMCAS 2026 in Paris, is blunt:
more than half of women had no idea menopause would affect their skin
until they experienced it firsthand.
The survey covered 4,300+ women aged 45–60 across 9 countries on 5 continents.
Most of them discovered the reality of menopausal skin changes
only after entering their 40s.
This is not a minor knowledge gap —
it reflects a systemic failure in how the medical and aesthetic industries
communicate with women about a universal biological transition.
Survey respondents reported an average of 3 distinct skin changes
since the onset of menopause.
The most commonly reported changes were as follows.
These findings align with a 2025 narrative review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
by Dr. Sattler of Rosenpark Klinik, Germany,
as reported by Physicians Weekly (April 1, 2026).
Sattler MD et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025; Physicians Weekly, April 1, 2026
“The perimenopause and menopause transition is associated with rapid deterioration in skin quality,
as declining estrogen impairs collagen production and extracellular matrix integrity.
Estrogen replacement can mitigate many of these changes
by improving collagen content and quality,
promoting angiogenesis,
and enhancing epidermal hydration, elasticity, and thickness.”
More than 30% of respondents said they wished they had known about menopausal skin changes
while still in their 30s.
This is not simply an awareness problem —
it points to a structural question about who in medicine and aesthetics
is responsible for delivering this information.
Almost no aesthetic research has focused on menopausal women
“A lack of research on minimalist aesthetic procedures for peri- and post-menopausal women
seeking only aesthetic treatment for menopausal skin changes was identified.
Only one study was found that included menopausal status as a participant criterion.”
(Sattler MD et al.)
Clinical trial data on aesthetic treatments has largely excluded menopausal status
Galderma’s announcement that it will begin recording menopausal status
in its injectable aesthetics clinical trials
implicitly acknowledges that this demographic has been underrepresented
in the data underlying current treatment protocols.
Galderma’s Announced Commitments (IMCAS 2026)
Galderma will begin recording participants’ menopausal status
in clinical trials for its injectable aesthetics products
Hosted a dedicated symposium at IMCAS 2026 titled
“Menopause in the Mirror: Challenges, Science and Aesthetic Solutions”
“Menopausal skin changes have long been overlooked —
despite affecting half the population.”
(Galderma official statement)
“My skincare stopped working” —
it might be hormonal, not product failure
If you’ve noticed in your 40s that your skin feels different —
drier despite the same routine,
or less responsive to products that used to work —
declining estrogen may be a contributing factor.
Consulting both a gynecologist and an aesthetic medicine specialist
can open up a more targeted approach.
Aesthetic treatment planning needs to account for menopausal status
Galderma’s decision to track menopausal status in clinical trials
reflects a growing recognition that hormonal environment
may influence both the efficacy and risk profile of aesthetic procedures.
Practitioners who incorporate this into their intake process
will be better positioned to serve this demographic.
The “50%+ didn’t know until it happened” figure is a damning indictment of how little the medical and aesthetic industries have communicated about menopause and skin.
The information existed — the delivery system failed.
Galderma’s move to treat “menopause × aesthetics” as a serious research category is overdue,
but it signals a meaningful shift in how the industry will approach this population going forward.
More than 30% of women said they wished they had known in their 30s.
That number is exactly why education must precede commercialization.
Summary
- Galderma presented findings at IMCAS 2026 (Paris, January 30)
from a survey of 4,300+ peri- and post-menopausal women (ages 45–60)
across 9 countries on 5 continents.
More than 50% said they had no idea menopause would affect their skin
until it happened.
Over 30% wished they had known in their 30s. - The most common skin changes reported:
wrinkles (face 59%), loss of firmness (face 58%, body 54%),
increased dryness (face 56%, body 58%),
and dullness (face 40%).
Women experienced an average of 3 changes,
with a self-reported severity score of 6/10. - Galderma announced it will begin recording menopausal status
in its injectable aesthetics clinical trials —
acknowledging that this population has been underrepresented in research.
Their statement: “Menopausal skin changes have long been overlooked,
despite affecting half the population.” - For practitioners and patients alike:
skin changes in the 40s may reflect hormonal shifts, not just aging.
Cross-disciplinary consultation between gynecology and aesthetic medicine,
combined with earlier patient education,
represents the next frontier in menopausal skin care.
Frequently Asked Questions
but estrogen decline begins during perimenopause,
which can start in the early 40s.
Research indicates that collagen, elasticity, and moisture retention
decline most rapidly in the five years following menopause.
Women who notice changes in their skin’s texture or responsiveness in their 40s
should consider consulting a specialist rather than assuming it’s simply aging.
Source: Galderma/IMCAS 2026, BusinessWire; Viscomi B, Muniz M, Sattler S. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24 Suppl 4:e70393
biostimulators such as poly-L-lactic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite (for collagen induction),
and energy-based devices including HIFU, radiofrequency, and laser (for firmness).
However, as Galderma’s survey highlights,
almost no clinical research has specifically enrolled menopausal women as a defined population.
Treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with a qualified physician.
Source: Galderma/IMCAS 2026; Physicians Weekly, April 1, 2026
may influence how patients respond to injectable aesthetic treatments —
in terms of both efficacy and safety profile.
By stratifying clinical data by menopausal status going forward,
the industry will be better equipped to develop evidence-based protocols
tailored to this demographic.
Source: Galderma/IMCAS 2026, BusinessWire, January 30, 2026
Sources:
1. Galderma. “Galderma Tackles Menopause-related Skin Changes With Global Survey and Clinical Trial Inclusivity.” IMCAS 2026 World Congress, Paris. January 30, 2026. BusinessWire.
2. Dermatology Times. “Galderma Prioritizes Menopause-Related Skin Health with New Data at IMCAS 2026.” February 4, 2026.
3. Physicians Weekly. “HRT’s Role in Skin Health During Menopause.” April 1, 2026. Primary source: Viscomi B, Muniz M, Sattler S. “Managing Menopausal Skin Changes: A Narrative Review of Skin Quality Changes, Their Aesthetic Impact, and the Actual Role of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Improvement.” J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Sep;24 Suppl 4:e70393. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70393
This article is an editorial report produced by NERO DOCTOR/BEAUTY based on publicly available primary sources. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified physician for individual medical decisions.
