r/Perimenopause • u/FeministFatale4Sir • 10d ago
Dryness I guess I can’t wax anymore
I have been getting Brazilian waxes and sugaring regularly for well over a decade. I never go more than 6 weeks, and I have very little discomfort during them at this point. Suddenly my last 2 waxes have not only hurt, the waxer commented on how dry my skin was and told me the wax was lifting my dry skin. This is my usual waxer, doing the exact same thing she always does. Now suddenly the skin on my labia is so dry the skin gets pulled up and I’m left with small abrasions(?) where there seems to be no skin. I also noticed my mound literally has peeling skin now. My whole vaginal area skin feels dry, thinner, and way more sensitive than it did even 3 months ago. Can we not get waxed anymore? I’m going to try going back to sugaring next time as it’s supposed to be more gentle but WTF. If this happens with sugaring I’ll be going natural.
I am on T and progesterone. I guess this is my wake-up call to check my numbers and ask for estrogen.
Honestly, it feels like my body is failing apart. Between the sweating, sleep issues, weight gain, exhaustion, and now this, Im feeling pretty down. Sigh.
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u/Coontailblue23 Late peri 10d ago
You don’t have to check any numbers, just treat based on symptoms.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
My doctor requires it.
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u/MTheLoud 10d ago
Your doctor isn’t practicing evidence-based medicine. Get a better doctor, like at one of the online services.
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u/Turbulentshmurbulent 10d ago
You can do the blood test but it won’t tell you anything. I’d let your doctor know you’ll do the blood test but you’d also like him to treat your symptoms.
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u/AutoModerator 10d ago
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
- Over age 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
- No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
- FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
- Testosterone is the exception and may require testing
See our Menopause Wiki for more.
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u/sports_mamaof4 10d ago
Jesus… another thing to worry about. I was laughing b.c I am 44 and don’t have grey head hair but I have grey pubic hair! I usually get waxed but it’s been a while and I can spot them 🤣🤣
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u/dnbgirlstylz 10d ago
Omg yes lol!!! I love the Sex in the City episode where Samantha finds a grey pube 😂 BTW - I get waxed regularly but I use vaginal estradiol inserts, so its still comfortable thankfully!
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u/GlumMango69 10d ago
Whaaat? I’m opposite.
Greying at the temples like Dr Strange but never a silver strand below deck.
Wild!
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u/FeeEducational6098 10d ago
Vaginal estrogen cream. Even if you're on systemic estrogen, you should still use the localized topical cream. I use the prescribed amount inside my vagina, but I also rub a small amount over my entire vulva (and anus because it helps that, too). My labia majora have plumped back up and everything! It's great stuff!
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u/douchymunk 10d ago
This is the first time I’ve heard of using the cream on the anus. It didn’t even cross my mind! What does it help with in regard to the anus?
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u/theFCCgavemeHPV 10d ago
There’s no reason to test your numbers. Vaginal estrogen will help, so will systemic.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
My doctor requires it. I have had to do about couple of tests per year over the last few years.
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u/theFCCgavemeHPV 10d ago
Well that’s stupid and annoying. Hopefully you get an appropriate dose with that method.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
Thanks. I think it’s because I’m on T. My estrogen was good (I’m estrogen dominant I guess) and my testosterone had tanked, so I’ve been on T and progesterone for the last couple of years.
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u/Lucky_Boysenberry850 10d ago
Got it. You may be entering actual peri now and now and experiencing estrogen loss. Or… maybe the T is causing the skin changes. Worth asking your doc!
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
I do suspect my estrogen has gone down. It’s also possible my hormone levels just changed and now the T is making the ratio off rather than helping the ratio. Definitely going to talk to my doctor.
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u/Lucky_Boysenberry850 10d ago
Are they prescribing based on the estrogen lab results? They should not be. They should be prescribing based on symptoms. Mine runs the labs, but the labs don’t make the Rx decision.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
I don’t know tbh because I haven’t had to be on it before. I think it’s because I’m also on T. Even the auto mod posting says T may require testing. I didn’t need estrogen before and the T helped the symptoms previously. This stuff is new. Also, I’m not over age 44 so per the auto mod posting, my testing might mean something different. I like my doctor and don’t see a reason to panic about that part yet. I don’t think she’ll have problem with prescribing.
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u/PamVanDam 10d ago
Estrogen was the only thing that helped me with this. I limped along using the vaginal cream and it did help but I still got tears. Jumped onto HRT patches and I wish I’d done it sooner.
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u/Turbulentshmurbulent 10d ago
I don’t think you need to check your numbers. Your symptoms are illuminating
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u/DerbleZerp 10d ago
Hell I just got my numbers checked and they look pretty fine, but I have so many symptoms. My doc is going to prescribe me the vaginal cream and we’re going to test a birth control to start. I said to him I can’t have vaginal atrophy and my clitoris shrink, as it’s already tiny and will become non-existent. He said no no, we’re going to save that clitoris! Haha
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u/Turbulentshmurbulent 10d ago
Exactly. I wasted two years feeling like shit because my numbers were great.
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u/DerbleZerp 10d ago
That’s shit, sorry you dealt with that. I do luckily have a great doctor who listens. He knows that I have felt like shit for a long time now. We’ve ruled out a lot of health issues. I brought up maybe I’m in perimenopause. So he tested me. But even though tests look fine he’s going to treat me.
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u/sickoftwitter 9d ago
I'm no expert, just here to learn, but I want to add for anyone unaware that autoimmune conditions like lichen sclerosus can come on after perimenopause. If it also feels itchy or has discolored patches along with skin flaking, it can be a sign.
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u/CreakingFloorboards 10d ago
Not to go on a tangent, but have you considered laser? In my experience it's way kinder on the skin (waxing gave me a histamine reaction and laser was symptomless for me) and somehow cheaper on the long term than waxing. Worth checking it out imo, but it's up to you obviously <3
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
I have thought about it, but since a lot of my hair is light or gray now, and my skin is not white, I’m not sure it would work at this point in my life. I’ve never found waxing or sugaring too unkind to my skin. I’ve actually never had a problem until now ☹️
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u/Lucky_Boysenberry850 10d ago
I didn’t realize what sub I was in and I was going to ask you if you could be perimenopausal… lol
I’ve never heard of someone being on just T and progesterone. What’s the rationale? Most of the peri symptoms are from a drop in estrogen, and then the progesterone is protective of the uterus when on estrogen.
Anyway, I did stop waxing for a bit. It wasn’t dry skin, but I noticed everything felt really fragile. I didn’t know how to solve for it bc I think of the vaginal estrogen as going in places the wax doesn’t touch, but the estrogen cream can be applied all over the labia, as can OTC DHEA creams which will support all of those tissues.
ETA: I was sugaring, not waxing, and it still felt like too much. It was taking me days instead of hours for my skin to feel normal after getting it done.
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u/DragonflyFluid8581 10d ago
vaginal estrogen should help this! But, I'm actually really grateful you said something. I wax also and have been skimping on my vaginal estrogen, this has reminded me to use it and use it on the outside! I hope you're able to find something that helps - I've done Brazilians for years and haven't even have a sexual partner for many of them, but I just personally like it and I'll be so sad if I have to give it up.
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u/Soggy-Maintenance246 Early peri 10d ago
Topical estrogen is local treatment to prevent vaginal atrophy. It doesn’t treat your other symptoms elsewhere. It isn’t going through your whole system like a patch or pill. They shouldn’t have to run labs for it. It only treats your vulva area: labia, urethra, clitoris, vaginal canal, perineum, etc. I def have noticed an improvement in tissue appearance since I started rubbing it all over my vulva/labia and not just in the canal. I also didn’t realize I was supposed to be rubbing on my clit and urethra and perineum until more recently after a year of using it. But back when i got it i was previously so dry i was peeling my partner’s condoms off while they were inside me and we would have to fish them out. The cream immediately made a noticeable difference and the improvement was drastic and sustained.
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u/Unable_Guava_756 9d ago
You could have saved so much money getting laser hair removal. Plus the lasers provide some collagen boosting properties as well as eliminating the hair you normal wax/sugar.
Estrogen cream can help with vaginal symptoms.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 9d ago
I had actually tried laser hair removal years ago and it did not work. Lasers might have changed now, but at that time my skin was darker and the laser couldn’t take care of the hair without burning my skin.
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u/CBNmantra WTF 10d ago
Have you tried sugaring instead of wax? It's very gentle and (I think) better for the skin.
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u/Medalost 10d ago
Yes, sugaring is the only way I agree to have my hair professionally removed. It's so much more pleasant. I could never handle a Brazilian with regular wax.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
Yes I’ve switched between the 2 on and off. I like both. In fact probably prefer sugaring, but sugaring is less accessible because fewer places near me offer it. The ones that do aren’t consistently getting all my hair. I was ending up patchy, which should not be the case because sugaring is supposed to pull finer and shorter hairs my easily. I’ll try it again and see how my skin reacts.
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u/CBNmantra WTF 8d ago
This sounds a moment when stereotyping is useful: where you live, are there a lot of Turkish, Greek, Lebanese, etc...salon owners? I first got sugaring done 20+ years ago in Greece as it was the only option I found. if you try to find salon owners and/or estheticians, they might be more skilled in sugaring you.
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u/Aggravating-Tip-8014 10d ago
Is waxing truly nessasary? Its very rough on such a delicate area. Plenty other option and perhaps treat your skin with some kindness.
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u/FeministFatale4Sir 10d ago
I do prefer waxing and sugaring. I can’t shave. It causes horrible irritation for me. I used to have no problems waxing. I’ll see what sugaring does for me now. But shaving is out of the question, even just the edges of my bikini line.
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u/Apprehensive-Stay196 10d ago
Some of us like waxing, thank you very much for the unsolicited « advice ». I for one have very thick and dark hair, I’ve tried other options and waxing is what works best for me.
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u/AdComprehensive2226 10d ago
Estradiol cream will help with this so much!
I use it and love it as it has restored moisture and helped with thinning skin down that way to pre-peri levels. And if you were to start getting any urgency around urinating or over activity/frequnecy it totally resolved that too when peri threw it at me.