7. 15-Minute Consult: Acne and Facial Hair in Perimenopause & Menopause with Dr. Melissa Mauskar

7. 15-Minute Consult: Acne and Facial Hair in Perimenopause & Menopause with Dr. Melissa Mauskar

From Our Womanity Q & A with Dr. Rachel Pope by Dr. Rachel Pope

April 15, 2026 · 12 min · Season 4 · Episode 7

About this episode

This episode features a consultation with Dr. Melissa Mauskar discussing skin issues like acne and facial hair during perimenopause and menopause.

As a board-certified OBGYN, I'm the first to admit: while I'm an expert in hormones and menopause, I am not a dermatologist. Yet, my patients come to me every day with skin concerns that feel like "cruel and unusual punishment." You're already dealing with hot flashes and night sweats—why are the cystic acne and chin hairs back too? To give you the answers you deserve, here is a "15-minute consultation" with my go-to expert and dear friend, Dr. Melissa Mauskar [https://utswmed.org/doctors/melissa-mauskar/]. Dr. Mauskar is a double-threat: a Dermatologist and Associate Professor in both the Departments of Dermatology and OBGYN at UT Southwestern. She is the Director of Genital Dermatology and Women's Health and a leading expert in vulvar dermatoses. In this episode, we dive into the "Big Three" of menopausal skin: 1. The Return of the Adult Acne Why are we getting "teenager" pimples in our 50s? Dr. Mauskar explains the "hormonal dance" of perimenopause—specifically the relative androgen excess that happens when estrogen dips. * The Gold Standard: Why retinoids (like Tazarotene) are the "heavy hitters" for both acne and aging. * The Spironolactone Debate: We discuss why this…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Rachel Pope

Guest: Dr. Melissa Mauskar

Topics covered

  • acne
  • facial hair
  • perimenopause
  • menopause
  • hormones
  • dermatology

Keywords

  • acne
  • facial hair
  • perimenopause
  • menopause
  • hormones
  • dermatology
  • retinoids
  • Spironolactone

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UT Southwestern

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