IMCAS 2026: Galderma Survey Sheds Light on Menopause and Skin Health

Galderma presented findings from a large global survey examining the dermatologic impact of menopause at the International Master Course on Aging Science (IMCAS) 2026 World Congress, held January 29–31 in Paris, France. The survey notes persistent gaps in awareness and education around menopause-related skin changes and highlights growing interest in aesthetic interventions among peri- and post-menopausal women.

The survey included more than 4,300 peri- and post-menopausal women aged 45 to 60 from 9 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America who had undergone or were open to aesthetic treatments. More than half of respondents reported learning about menopause-related skin changes only after experiencing them firsthand, most commonly in their 40s, while over 30% indicated they would have preferred to receive this information in their 30s. More than half described their current knowledge of menopause-related skin changes as neutral or unsatisfactory.

Participants reported an average of 3 skin changes since the onset of menopause. The most common facial concerns were lines and wrinkles (59%), loss of firmness and elasticity (58%), dryness (56%), and dull skin tone (40%), with similar patterns reported on the body. Overall severity of skin changes was rated a mean of 6 out of 10. Declining estrogen levels during peri- and post-menopause are associated with accelerated collagen and elastin loss, reduced hyaluronic acid content, and impaired skin barrier function, with studies estimating up to a 30% reduction in collagen within the first 5 years after menopause.

Psychosocial effects were also notable: 60% of women agreed that menopause-related skin changes made them feel less attractive, 57% more anxious, and 55% less confident. Aesthetic treatments were rated as having the highest satisfaction compared with other approaches such as supplements, exercise changes, or traditional medicine, and many respondents expressed interest in future use of neuromodulators, hyaluronic acid fillers, skin quality treatments, and biostimulators.

In response, Galderma announced it will begin incorporating menopausal status into its clinical trials to better understand treatment outcomes in this population and to inform evidence-based aesthetic care strategies.