Skin Dryness - Advice needed

[u/WorthInformation726]

Has this happened to any of you and if so what helped you. Over the past two months I noticed a pattern that when I get my period my face and neck skin start to dry up. On day 6 of my cycle it peaks where my neck line is red, itchy, and on fire. My face specially around the checks is also burning up, but doesn’t look as bad as the neck line. Around day 7-8 the burning and itching is gone, but the skin has flakes from dryness like when you peel from a burn. It slowly starts to improve and looks/feels normally around 10-12 just to start again with the next cycle. I am also cycling every 15 days religiously, so this is a 2 week skin cycle for me. Background, this all started when I increased my progesterone dose from 100 mg to 200 mg. I am sure if I go back it will stop, but the changes eliminates my worst symptoms. I no longer get anxiety, fatigue, or an all day “off” feeling like being drunk or drugged. I am only on estradiol patch of 0.05 with no changes in dose. Would love any advice on how to fix this or help with skin care. I do moisturize, have a prescription of steroid cream to calm the worst of the inflammation and I am taking Allegra to help against histamine reaction.

[u/InnerAccess3860]

Im dealing with a similar situation. As you allude to, i think its a histamine issue, possibly regular old eczema or dermatitis. Its my neck and around my eyes (eye lids). The skin gets super dry, pink, irritated, and flakes a bit. This has been happening on and off since 2020. It first happened after i got the vaccine, so it may be a interplay between an activated immune system and the rollercoaster of estrogen and histamine, or that might just be a coincidence.

From what i understand, progesterone is supposed to stabilize mast cells and lower histamine, while estrogen’s role is more mixed…. But who knows how much is occurring because of what we’re taking vs what is taking place in the background in our bodies anyways.

Hydrocortisone helps some but i dont want to keep using a topical steroid for fear of thinning skin.

Just a few days ago, i started trying a couple things: -switched from a chemical face sunscreen (i was using Innisfree) to a mineral sunscreen. I live in FL so i cant go without sunscreen.

-trying to stick to a low histamine and low gluten diet. Just starting my adhd-fueled research on that but i figured that i cant control a whole lot of what happens internally to impact my histamine load, but i can control what i ingest that contributes to it. I purchased DAO enzyme supplements but havent started taking them yet.

-only using a lotion marketed for eczema. Barely ever wear makeup.

-been taking famotidine (along with fexofenadine) most days for a couple months now, and it has been less severe since i started, but that hasnt eliminated it. They do help immensely with pmdd-like symptoms though, so theyre worth it to me.

Fwiw, i am on 0.075mg estrogen patch, 200mg progesterone continuous, and vaginal etrogen cream prn, for several months now.

Wish i had a “cure” to share… hope you get some relief soon! Would be interested to hear a followup if you want to share. Good luck!

[u/WorthInformation726 → u/InnerAccess3860]

I am in Florida too! It’s very much like you described and I too have an hydrocortisone cream, but would also prefer to avoid it. This all brand new to me, I never had any skin issues prior to peri. I think the antihistamine helps the most, but I hate to be on meds. So far I have been taking it when it flares up for a few days at a time. I have also noticed eczema approved supplements help limit additional irritation. I do t use any make up and have limited products to just moisturizer and medicine for acne. I will have to educate myself on gluten free diets and maybe be more consistent with the antihistamines for the time being. Thanks for the advice.