If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
If you or someone you love has been experiencing the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, from brain fog, fatigue, and mood swings to vaginal dryness, weight gain, and muscle aches, you know how that transitional period sometimes requires a few hacks and some trusty products to keep a body cool, calm and collected.
Hot flashes, which are sudden flares of heat, sweating, and flushed skin that can be as quick as a minute to as long as five, are one of the most notorious bothersome symptoms that can disrupt your day — or night. About 75 percent of people in menopause experience hot flashes and how long you could be affected varies, from several months to past post-menopause.
“Hot flashes are due to a drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause,” says Dr. Mindy Pelz MD, a women’s health expert, lifestyle advocate, and the author of The Menopause Reset. “Estrogen regulates your hypothalamus, the part of your brain that controls body temperature. As estrogen drops, your hypothalamus has trouble regulating body temperature, which is why you may experience hot flashes.”
Per Dr. Kameelah Phillips, MD, a board certified OB-GYN in New York City and the founder of Calla Women’s Health, in response to the abrupt change in estrogen, the hypothalamus “thinks” you’re too warm and starts to cool off the body, hence the hot flash. “Blood vessels against the skin start to dilate in an effort to release heat and the result is flushed skin, sweating, and occasionally heart palpitations,” says Dr. Phillips.
Stress, certain medications and food, and alcohol can be co-factors in the occurrence of hot flashes, as well as other symptoms of menopause, says Dr. Karen Toubi, MD, a board certified OB-GYN in Beverly Hills, California and a certified Cliovana expert. “Treatment of menopause and perimenopause is individual, so talk to your doctor about the appropriate methods to help you live a life of vitality.”
While there are other symptoms that might also need your attention (e.g. vaginal dryness, mood changes, chills and sleep issues), the hot flashes folks experience are some of the most well-known and most hated parts of the process.
Below, check out our picks of comfortable, cooling products for people experiencing menopause and perimenopause-related hot flashes, day or night.
-
Hot Girls Pearls Ivory White Cooling Necklace
Image Credit: Amazon These cooling beads, cleverly disguised as a fun necklace, are filled with a non-toxic gel, which when frozen will keep you cool for up to 30 minutes. The necklace is detailed with Swarovski spacer pearls and sterling silver findings, and the accompanying storage pouch helps keep the necklace cold until you put it on.
-
Stripes The Cool Factor Calming Face Mist
Image Credit: Sephora Formulated specifically to help alleviate perimenopausal and menopausal hot flashes, this face mist offers instant cooling relief with a soothing blend of aloe vera and edelweiss leaf extract, plus squalane to hydrate and protect skin (which tends to get dry due to drops in estrogen during perimenopause and menopause).
-
Joylux coldHER 58 Cool Pack
Image Credit: Amazon When you’re trying to cool down, think of the girls! These discreet and easy-to-place cooling inserts go right in your bra and can keep you cool for up to an hour without any of the damp discomfort (or freezer burn) of ice or ice packs.
-
Slumberfy Cooling Mattress Protector
Image Credit: Amazon This fitted mattress protector uses ArcticTex Cooling Technology to help pull away excess heat as your body temperature changes while you sleep. And it’s made from a soft, easy-to-care-for fabric that’s waterproof and hypoallergenic.
-
Bedsure Queen Cooling Sheet Set
Image Credit: Amazon No more hot sheets sticking to you while you’re asleep! These silky rayon sheets are made from bamboo to keep you cool and dry all night. The soft fabric naturally wicks away moisture and helps regulate body temperature.
-
Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow
Image Credit: Amazon Cuddle up with this cooling pillow for an actual good night’s rest. Made from a NASA-approved temperature-regulating fabric, the pillow stores heat as your body temperature rises while you sleep, then releases it as your body cools down. It’s also designed for maximum neck support in two firmness levels with 100% down alternative fiberfill.
-
Lusomé Gabriela Nightie
Image Credit: Lusomé There’s no need to change out of sweaty pajamas in the middle of the night with this adorable, comfy sleep tee. It’s made of an exclusive moisture-absorbing fabric called XIROTEX that keeps you dry and cool by pulling moisture to the fabric surface to make sure it evaporates.
-
Glow Botanica All-Natural Flaxseed and Lavender Pad
Image Credit: Amazon Get relief from hot flashes while also treating a bout of stress with this aromatherapeutic, flaxseed and lavender-filled pad. Pop it in the freezer for a few hours and apply to your forehead or neck while you relax. (It also doubles as a heating pad to treat cramps or neck and back pain.)
-
Embr Wave Thermal Wristband
Image Credit: Embr Wave Thermal Wristband The techie in you will love how this cool gadget (pun intended) not only offers immediate relief from hot flashes, but also helps manage anxiety and improve sleep using thermal science and your body’s natural response to temperature. Basically, you turn the band on for any hot flash triggers, including stress, and it helps regulate your body temperature to better cope with the situation. The battery life lasts for nine hours, so you can even wear it all night if hot flashes tend to disrupt your sleep.
-
Hot Flash Pillow
Image Credit: Amazon This comfortable, cooling neck pillow helps relieve hot flashes whether you’re working, resting, or moving about. It’s filled with cooling beads that uniformly retain their maximum cold temperature for 30 minutes after a few hours in the freezer.
-
The Good Patch Hot Flash Patch
Image Credit: Ulta This plant-extract powered skin patch steadily releases organically grown, THC-free hemp extract, cooling menthyl lactate, and hormone-balancing black cohosh over 8-12 hours to keep hot flashes at bay. The best part is that you won’t even know you’re wearing it.
-
Spice of Life Bladeless Neck Fan
Image Credit: Amazon This wearable, bladeless fan cools you off wherever you go for as long as you need it. The compact, discrete, lightweight, and flexible design targets the neck area for comfort. And the quiet airflow and rechargeable battery, which lasts for up to 5 hours, makes it super efficient. We also like how it looks like a pair of old-school headphones casually slung around your neck.
-
Tea Botanics Hot Flash Tea
Image Credit: Tea Botanics Cool down and relax with a cup of this organic tea made from gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) Oolong tea leaf, black cohosh, Echinacea, and wild yam. The combination of herbs is ment to assist in regulating body temperature, balancing hormones, improving sleep, and offering mental clarity.
-
Sukeen 4-Pack Cooling Towels
Image Credit: Amazon Here’s an easy, icy towel that you can grab and go to cool off. Just soak the breathable mesh towel, wring, and shake out 3 to 5 times to activate it. It’s made from a high-tech fabric that chills in about 30 seconds and stays cool for up to 3 hours. Keep it stored in its waterproof plastic pouch for easy access.
-
Homedics Gel Eye Mask with Hot & Cold Therapy
Image Credit: Homedics If menopause comes with migraines for you (or you’re a chronic migraine sufferer to begin with), this cooling gel eye mask is a must-have item for whenever you feel one coming on. The removable cooling pads can be popped in the freezer to bring cooling relief, or if heat tends to help your headaches, there are 3 LED heating intensities to choose from. It’s perfect for when you just need to shut the world out and take a nap to feel better.
More Stories from Health & Wellness
Leave a Comment