(844) 863-6700
Dry and Itchy Skin in Menopause: its causes and treatment options
Most women approaching menopause know about hot flashes and night sweats, but other side effects of menopause are not often discussed, such as dry and itchy skin after menopause. Hormonal changes during menopause can cause a range of skin complaints, including hot flashes, sweating, and itchiness.
Dry skin results from the decreasing estrogen levels in the bloodstream at the onset of menopause. Estrogen stimulates the body’s production of collagen and oils, which keep the skin naturally moisturized through most of a woman’s life. Once estrogen levels begin to decline, your body’s ability to produce oil slows down, leaving your skin dry and itchy.
One of many menopause symptoms, you might start to notice your skin drying out on the elbows and the T-zone – the area of your face covered by a capital T, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin. However, dry patches can appear anywhere, including your chest and back, arms, legs, and genitals.
What Can I Do to Treat Dry and Itchy Skin after Menopause?
Unfortunately, dry skin can start early in perimenopause and remain a problem for the rest of your life, but this menopause symptom is easily managed with some simple, at-home skincare practices.
Eat and drink smart
Getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet will help your skin produce the protective oils it needs to stay hydrated. Look for essential fatty acids, such as omega-3s, in eggs, salmon, sardines, soy, walnuts, flax, and many other foods. Of course, drinking lots of water is also essential to staying hydrated and improving skin condition.
Get moving
Exercise is a great way to circulate oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, including your skin. It can also increase collagen, one of your skin’s natural moisturizers.
Apply sunscreen
Use SPF 15 or higher for the most effective protection. You should apply sunscreen even on cold or cloudy days; UV rays can easily penetrate clouds and cause damage to your skin.
Take cooler showers
Take shorter showers in warm water rather than long, hot showers or baths. Hot, steamy showers and baths feel great at the time, but they can dry out your skin. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils. To protect your skin, turn down the temperature and spend less time in the shower.
Use mild soap
Fancy scented or antibacterial soaps can actually work too well, stripping healthy oils off your skin and drying it out. Stick to unscented, gentle soaps formulated for dry or delicate skin. Exfoliate with a loofah to slough off the itchy, dead layers of skin.
To ease itchiness, you can take a lukewarm bath with colloidal oatmeal, a fine powdered oatmeal that helps soothe the skin. Colloidal oatmeal can be purchased in any pharmacy.
Moisturize
Lotion up right after you shower. You don’t need anything special here: expensive lotions moisturize just as well as the ones you pick up at a corner store. Even petroleum jelly can work just fine—it can go on pretty thick, so use a towel to dab off the excess.
Avoid alcohol and nicotine
These harmful chemicals can also dry out your skin.
Hormone replacement therapy
Hormone therapy, taking supplemental estrogen and progesterone, can almost instantly end the flashes and improve mood swings. Estrogen is a vital hormone that helps a woman’s body function healthily. The treatment with estrogen, also known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), has been proven to minimize the unwelcome side effects of menopause, such as dry and itchy skin conditions. in some studies, postmenopausal women on hormone therapy appear to have skin that holds onto water better than women not on hormones.
Medications
Try an anti-itch cream. Anti-itch creams help moisturize and soothe itchy skin. You can try over-the-counter topical anti-itch creams or antihistamine tablets. If these don’t work, ask your women’s health care doctor to give you a prescription for something stronger. This is a short-term solution to relieve discomfort for your skin condition.
If you’ve been taking good care of yourself by following the steps above and still suffer from dry and itchy skin after menopause, you are welcome to make an appointment to discuss your concerns. Some skin problems indicate a more serious condition, like hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, or fungal infections. You may need to seek the help of a dermatologist.
When you make your appointment, come prepared with specific concerns and questions. It might be helpful to keep a diary of symptoms or create a list of questions you have for me.
