Save Your Skin

The Good News: Your skin is drier, so you're less likely to suffer from unsightly breakouts. While some women do experience menopause-related skin issues, they're usually treatable with hormone-replacement therapy.

The Not-So-Good News: You may notice your skin is more fragile, and you may have an increasing number of age spots. Consider using a prescription hydroquinone product — "the gold standard for reducing age spots," says Helen M. Torok, M.D., medical director for the Dermatology & Surgery Center at Trillium Creek in Medina, Ohio. Also, the fine lines and wrinkles that started appearing in your 50s are becoming more dramatic, especially if you smoked or sunned significantly in your younger years. One remedy: prescription retinol products like Retin-A or Renova, Torok says. These creams repair damaged skin by speeding skin cell turnover.

What's Up With That? In your 60s you may develop dilated superficial blood vessels (called telangiectasias) on the cheeks, nose, chin and legs, but don't worry: Doctors can zap them with a laser that destroys the blood vessels underneath the skin — with no scarring. Another option to help make skin look younger: a radio-frequency-emitting device, which uses heat to contract collagen and tighten the skin, without injuring the outer epidermis.

What's Ahead: In your 70s you're likely to notice a big spike in skin tags, as well as excess skin around the neck and jowl lines. Skin tags are usually benign and can be removed through freezing or cauterizing. If you are bothered by sagging skin under the jaw, consider a skin-tightening radio-frequency treatment.