When should I start laser hair removal to be ready for summer?

October is ideal. Laser hair removal needs a course of sessions spaced several weeks apart, so starting in autumn means most treatment happens over winter while skin is out of the sun.

Can laser remove grey chin hairs?

Laser targets pigment in the hair, so it is most effective on darker hairs. Grey, white or very fair hairs do not respond in the same way, which is why starting while hairs still have colour is recommended.

How long before an event should I have a chemical peel?

For a peel with visible peeling, such as The Perfect Peel, allow at least two to three weeks before a big event. A no-downtime facial a few days before is better for a last-minute boost.

Do I need to be on HRT for treatments to work?

No. Treatments can be tailored whether or not you are taking HRT. Your medical history is reviewed at consultation so your plan is safe and suited to you.

Menopause Skin in Autumn: Your 3-Month Treatment Plan, From Collagen to Christmas

Q: Does menopause affect your skin?

Yes. Falling oestrogen reduces collagen, hydration and elasticity. Skin can lose up to 30% of its collagen in the first five years of menopause, which often shows up as dryness, dullness, laxity and volume loss.

Kelly Saynor

1 day ago

5 min read

October is Menopause Awareness Month. It's also, quietly, one of the best months of the year to start looking after your skin. The summer sun has gone. The party season is still weeks away. And many of the treatments that make the biggest difference to menopausal skin need time to work: collagen stimulation, laser hair removal and resurfacing peels. If you start now, you're working with the calendar rather than against it.

This guide covers what menopause does to your skin and why autumn is the ideal starting point. It then sets out a realistic month-by-month plan, from your first consultation in October to glowing (not peeling) at the Christmas party.

What does menopause actually do to your skin?

Oestrogen does far more than most of us realise. It supports collagen production, helps skin hold on to moisture, and keeps it firm and elastic. As levels fall through perimenopause and menopause, skin can lose up to 30% of its collagen in the first five years. After that it loses roughly 2% a year.

For many women, the first signs are:

Skin that feels drier, tighter and duller, even with a routine that used to work
Softening along the jawline and neck
Volume loss in the cheeks and mid-face
Thinner, more fragile skin under the eyes
New pigmentation or uneven tone
Coarser, darker hairs on the chin, upper lip or jawline

That last one is one of the questions we were asked about most, and one of the least talked about. As oestrogen falls, the balance with androgens such as testosterone shifts. For lots of women that means stray chin hairs appearing just as the hair on their head starts to thin. Kelly explains the full picture in Why Do Women Get Chin Hair?

None of this means something has gone wrong. Your skin's needs have changed, and your plan should change with them. You can read more about how we approach this on our Menopause & Your Skin page.

Why is autumn is the best time to start?

Less UV means safer, more effective treatment. Laser, IPL and resurfacing peels all make skin more sensitive to the sun for a while afterwards. With lower UV levels between October and March, your skin can heal properly. You also have less risk of post-treatment pigmentation, which menopausal skin is already more prone to.

Collagen takes time. Treatments that stimulate your own collagen work gradually, over weeks rather than days. Start in October and you'll see the benefit by December, not after it.

Laser is a course, not a quick fix. Laser hair removal needs a series of sessions spaced several weeks apart, because hair grows in cycles. If you begin in October, most of your course falls over winter, when your skin is covered and out of the sun. By spring you'll notice finer, sparser regrowth, and by summer far less shaving and fewer ingrown hairs.

There's also a timing point specific to menopause. Laser targets the pigment in the hair, so it works best on darker hairs. Grey, white or very fair hairs don't respond in the same way. If chin or lip hair is bothering you now, starting sooner rather than later gives you the best chance of good results.

December diaries fill fast. Planning now means you get the appointments you want before party season, rather than squeezing in whatever's left the week before.

Your October to December plan

Every plan at Renew starts with a consultation rather than a treatment list, so yours will be tailored to your skin. As a guide, here's how the months can look.

October: consult, rebuild, begin

Book your consultation. We'll look at what's changed for you specifically: dryness, laxity, volume, pigmentation, unwanted hair, or a combination. Then we'll build a plan at a pace that suits you.
Start laser hair removal on the chin, upper lip or jawline if stray hairs are a concern. Small areas take just minutes per session.
Begin collagen-supporting treatments. Hydration-focused injectables such as Profhilo® and skin boosters are typically given as a short course a few weeks apart. They aim to improve skin quality, hydration and firmness rather than change your shape. That fits menopausal skin well, because dryness and laxity are often the first concerns.
Simplify your routine. Autumn isn't about adding more steps. It's about choosing the right ones. Our Glutaceuticals® range, is built around glutathione to support brightness and even tone without overloading skin that's already feeling more sensitive.

November: resurface and refine

Book your peel early in the month. As the House of Peel, we're known for The Perfect Peel® and The Perfect Peel® Superblend It targets dullness, pigmentation, fine lines and uneven texture, all common in menopausal skin. Expect visible peeling for around a week afterwards. Leave at least two to three weeks between your peel and any big event so your skin has fully settled and is at its best.
Continue your laser course and any second injectable sessions as advised.
Keep up your daily SPF. It still matters in November, especially after resurfacing treatments.

December: glow and maintain

Have a pre-event facial a few days before the party, not the day of. Something like our Red Carpet Facial gives an instant boost with no downtime.
Don't start anything new in the final week. New actives, new treatments or a first-time peel right before an event risk irritation or breakouts. We want you glowing, not purging.
Plan ahead for January. Many patients carry their momentum into Skin Club, our monthly membership, so their skin keeps improving through winter.

A word on how you feel, not just how you look

Menopause can affect confidence, sleep, mood and energy as much as skin, and those changes can feel very personal. Some of our most important conversations in clinic never make it onto a treatment plan. If symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, please speak to your GP or a menopause specialist too. Aesthetic treatments can help you feel more like yourself, but they work best alongside the right medical support, not instead of it.

At Renew, we don't see menopause as something to "fix". It's a natural life stage, and our role is to help your skin stay healthy, hydrated and resilient through it, so you feel like the most confident version of yourself rather than a different version.

That's what #BeMoreMe means to us.

Book your menopause skin consultation

Whether it's dryness, laxity, stray chin hairs or simply skin that no longer feels like yours, the best results start with a proper plan, and the best time to start is now.

Our nurse-led clinic at Hadfield House, Gawsworth, is just outside Macclesfield and welcomes patients from across Cheshire, including Congleton, Wilmslow and Prestbury.

Book your consultation with Kelly or call 0330 111 8547.

This article is for general information and doesn't replace personalised medical advice. All treatments at Renew are consultation-led, and suitability is assessed individually.