Your Hair & Skin Survival Guide In Menopause – With Dermatologist Dr Archana Rao
What can we do about hair and skin changes in menopause?In this week’s episode, dermatologist Dr Archana Rao joins Dr Naomi Potter to break down the real science behind menopausal skin and hair changes. Archana is THE expert when it comes to hair and skin specifically in menopause, so you're in perfect hands!From explaining why exactly these changes happen, to outlining the habits and products that can help (and the fads to avoid!), we hope this episode makes you feel more seen and less alone. Hair and skin changes can be distressing. But given the correct information and the right tools, there are things that can be done.💬 Topics include:• Why skin becomes drier, thinner or more reactive• How hormones affect collagen, elasticity & pigmentation• Thinning hair, shedding & pattern changes: what’s normal?• The ingredients that genuinely work (and what to skip)• When to see a dermatologist — and what treatments help most• Affordable routines for healthier midlife skin & hairFollow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Dr Archana Rao below:Archana's Instagram: @dr_archana_r_raoArchana's website: https://drarchanarao.com/Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotterMore info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/00:00 – Meet Dr Archana Rao: dermatologist specialising in menopause01:14 – Why menopause needs its own dermatology02:04 – Thinning hair in perimenopause03:26 – Hair changes: flags not to ignore05:11 – Receding hairline & eyebrow loss06:48 – “Menopause shampoos” fact checked09:12 – Shedding vs thinning hair10:43 – Minoxidil – everything you need to know13:26 – Why midlife hormones hit your hair so hard15:07 – HRT, testosterone & hair19:27 – Supplements for your hair23:08 – Your evidence-based hair routine in menopause24:11 – Menopause & skin changes25:51 – The ideal midlife skin routine27:10 – What will wreck your menopausal skin28:48 – Daily SPF as anti-ageing29:41 – Adult acne in perimenopause32:29 – Rosacea triggers in midlife37:22 – How to look your best in menopause40:43 – Dr Rao’s go-to moisturisers & final adviceIf you liked this episode, you might also enjoy our conversation about gaining confidence during menopause with self love expert Lou Featherstone: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pje5DvRy7rUoc3eyvJfSN?si=T6LMn8nYRMi2_oLxfcN6Cw#skincare #haircare #menopause
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Your Emergency Toolkit: When You Hit Rock Bottom In Menopause – Dr Naomi Potter
When Menopause Feels Overwhelming: Understanding the Mental Health Impact Viewer discretion: this episode does contain mention of suicide. Today, Dr Naomi Potter tackles one of the most misunderstood – and under-discussed – aspects of menopause: the severe emotional distress many women experience.Naomi explains why hormonal changes can push women to emotional breaking points, what the data actually tells us, and what to do if you are feeling hopeless. This conversation alone does not equate to medical help. We created this episode first and foremost because we want to shed light on a tough topic many people aren't prepared to talk about.If you can relate to this episode and are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call:NHS on 111The Samaritans on 116 123Or ask your GP for an emergency appointmentIn an emergency:Call 999 for an ambulance💬 Topics include:• Why some women experience severe emotional symptoms in menopause• How hormones affect mood, resilience, and mental wellbeing• The real data on emotional distress during perimenopause• Early warning signs to look out for• What to do if everything feels “too much”• Where and how to seek safe, confidential help• Treatments that can support both mood and hormone balanceFollow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – When despair hits in menopause00:31 – Why these feelings matter01:04 – Urgent help for severe menopause symptoms01:56 – Treatments that can ease emotional overwhelm02:26 – How doctors assess mental health in perimenopause02:48 – How common intrusive thoughts are in menopause03:20 – How hormones affect mood in perimenopause04:12 – Why early menopause impacts mental wellbeing04:45 – Hormonal mood changes vs mental health conditions05:37 – Why getting help can feel so hard06:41 – How loved ones can support you07:04 – Why recovery from symptoms takes time07:52 – Why this phase of menopause won’t last forever08:16 – When to seek immediate help08:43 – Why you shouldn’t wait More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter
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Kate Lawler Opens Up About Menopause Struggles (fear of HRT, symptoms & marriage)
Feel like you've lost yourself in menopause? Don't worry, getting back on track doesn't need to be a gruelling task. In this deeply honest conversation, broadcaster, Big Brother winner, and fellow podcaster Kate Lawler joins Dr Naomi Potter to talk about the emotional and physical toll of menopause. Kate opens up candidly about her fear of taking HRT, the whirlwind of menopause symptoms she's trying to keep at bay, how she wishes she could "give my husband the wife he married back" and so much more.If you have also felt like a hormonal mess with no idea what to fix first, this episode will be an absolute game-changer for you.💬 Topics include:• Kate’s personal journey through perimenopause• The fear and stigma surrounding HRT• How hormone changes can impact relationships• Losing (and rediscovering) your sense of identity• Dr Naomi Potter’s advice for women feeling “not themselves”Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Kate Lawler below:Kate's Instagram: @thekatelawlerKate's TikTok: @thekatelawlerKate's YouTube channel: @katelawlerofficial Kate's podcast Boj and Kate Have A Lot On Their Plate: https://linktr.ee/bojandkate?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnthf83MQB3QCQlYTqfqJKS2tjJiCSp5weC6KQE7FXsZw0lK5hfZK-punRLoE_aem_w6T5Dd2sv0lkhTOmCneO3Q&brid=twDZS9EANZGY80xeeatMAgFollow her podcast on Instagram: @bogandkate Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotterMore info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/00:00 – Meet Kate Lawler00:43 – Winning Big Brother02:33 – Postnatal depression and motherhood 03:28 – Why Kate hid perimenopause (stigma, work, ageism)04:45 – “I don’t feel like me”: perimenopause symptoms 06:59 – Mood swings, heavy periods, anxiety & brain fog09:03 – The blood test that changed everything 10:35 – Early menopause warning at the fertility clinic12:15 – Fear of HRT13:31 – HRT and breast tenderness16:24 – Health anxiety in perimenopause18:10 – Real HRT risks19:11 – Personalising HRT: oestrogen, progesterone & testosterone22:13 – Can extra progesterone help with sleep and anxiety?23:55 – Testosterone on the NHS27:04 – Bone health in early menopause28:57 – Balancing risks: breast cancer headlines vs heart & brain health31:11 – Kate Lawler breaks down about perimenopause35:44 – HRT patches vs gel39:29 – Vaginal oestrogen 44:47 – Setting rest boundaries in midlife51:02 – Why midlife women feel overwhelmed56:05 – “Textbook perimenopause” vs depression57:45 – Listener Questions1:01:00 – Closing thoughts and next steps for Kate Lawler#hrt #menopause #katelawler
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Why Is My Body Changing In Menopause? Dr Naomi Potter Explains (hair, skin, weight gain)
Feel like you've lost yourself during menopause? Dr Naomi Potter runs through the key body changes you can expect – and what can be done about them.From hair and skin shifts to muscle loss, fat redistribution, and that stubborn midlife weight gain, Naomi reveals why these changes occur (hello, hormone science). She also sheds light on what we can all do to protect your health, confidence, and longevity as your body evolves. Expect clear, practical, myth-busting advice from one of the UK’s leading menopause doctors.💬 Topics include:• The hormonal science behind midlife body changes• Why metabolism slows — and what to do about it• How menopause affects hair and skin • The truth about muscle loss and fat gain• Doctor-approved tips for rebuilding strength, energy, and confidenceFollow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotterFollow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – What happens to your body in menopause?00:28 – Hair changes in menopause: thinning, breakage & growth01:24 – Blood tests & nutrition for hair health01:46 – Do hair products work? What you should (and shouldn’t) buy03:09 – Skin changes in menopause: dryness, acne & sensitivity04:29 – Simple skin fixes that work (and what doesn’t)04:56 – Weight gain in menopause: why it happens05:46 – Why fat moves to the belly (and what to do about it)06:33 – Doctor’s tips to manage midlife weight gain08:16 – Face & body changes: bone, fat & muscle loss09:02 – Why it’s not ‘just vanity’ to care about your appearanceMore info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter
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'Mad Girl' Bryony Gordon On Thriving In Her 40s Despite OCD, Alcoholism And Hormone Sensitivity
What happens when hormones collide with mental health?In this week’s episode, journalist and author Bryony Gordon joins Dr Naomi Potter to talk candidly about navigating perimenopause while managing OCD, addiction recovery, and hormone sensitivity.Bryony shares how the progesterone pill left her suicidal, why sobriety has been her superpower, and how she’s rebuilding her sense of self in midlife — proving that reinvention is always possible, no matter what stage you’re in.Expect honesty, hope, and practical advice on how to protect your mental health through hormonal change.💬 Topics include:• How hormones can affect OCD, anxiety, and mood• Why sobriety can make perimenopause easier (and harder)• Understanding progesterone sensitivity• How to spot when hormones are driving mental health issues• Tips for self-care, support and midlife reinventionBryony's Instagram: @bryonygordonBryony's YouTube: @thelifeofbryonyBryony's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-life-of-bryony/id1763828544Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotterNaomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter00:00 – Arrival by running!01:38 – How a royal chat led Bryony to run the London Marathon06:52 – Getting sober: rehab, 12-step & building a life without booze10:00 – Alcohol cravings, socialising sober & what actually helps17:35 – OCD explained: intrusive thoughts & the perimenopause trigger22:25 – Anxiety or hormones? Speaking to Dr Naomi & trying HRT23:19 – Oestrogen gel: relief within days (mood, energy, clarity)24:39 – Progesterone crash: severe mood dip & finding a safer option33:26 – The Mirena coil: why it worked when pills didn’t41:59 – Midlife reframe: no periods, more power, new identity48:20 – Brain fog & burnout: stress load, simple resets that work55:55 – Q&A: sobriety, early menopause & pill-sensitivity worries1:01:33 – Tools for hormone days, mindset shifts & sharks 🦈#bryonygordon #ocd #menopause
Part open-clinic, part talk show, this is the podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health.
Each week, menopause Doctor Naomi Potter is joined by a new guest to explore the real-life impact of their hormonal changes. From hot flushes and anxiety, to brain fog and sleep problems, no topic is off limits.
Whether you’re wondering if HRT is right for you, want to restore your libido, or need a help managing menopause symptoms, this is a safe space for women to face their midlife insecurities. So settle in, embrace the hormones, and enjoy the laughs along the way.
Australia