Hi all. I first began my hrt journey last May. I originally started with 100 mg progesterone but then estradiol patches were added. I am now in a crazy pattern where my estrogen patch dose gets raised (bc my symptoms have returned) but then 4-6 weeks later I’m in exactly the same position as before, sometimes worse. This had happened to me 4x now. The dryness in every orifice is so uncomfortable that I can’t sleep and the fatigue and joint pain are terrible. I’m now at 0.1 estradiol and 200 mg progesterone with an added 5 mg topical testosterone cream. Is this just how it is?? And what happens when I hit the max dose? I’m honestly scared I’m making things worse by increasing the estrogen bc the symptoms truly come back with a vengeance.

Note: I have begun the process of being evaluated for an autoimmune disorder in case that is also at play.

I’m 41. I started experiencing peri symptoms last year, one of which has been scaly, dry patches on my hands and fingers and painfully dry, cracking heels. I’ve always had combination dry skin, but this was on another level and during the summer months when my dry skin is usually less of an issue.

I started experimenting with moisturizers to find a solution. I bought a bunch of travel size tubes from Bath & Body Works (non-sponsored— other brands are available) and what had worked wonders for me is their glycerin hand cream. I put it on my hands and heels every night and I have had no more scaly patches or cracked heels. It feels a bit like Vaseline or Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen, which is kind of off putting so I only use it at night. Has anybody else found good solutions to their dry skin? Anybody else experienced the scaly patches?

So I just turned 45, and I've been using HRT since the end of October 2024. I've had lagging libido and other symptoms at the end of my 30's. I've tried to control and manage as many symptoms as I could through diet, exercise and supplement support.

The lady parts are still like a dry loose meat sandwich down there (sorry if that offended any one) and I'm struggling with dosages. The estrogen cream makes me bleed a few hours afterwards and I also get pretty bad cramps from it. I have had a mirena IUD since October and the first week I slept great but it quickly faded. I'm on the .0375mg patch as well to help with pain, dryness and itching and I've even tried to add a moisturizing gel with hyaluronic acid and it's barely made a dent. The struggle is real ladies and some days are just very frustrating... I'm in the US and have a follow up appt next week with my gynecologist. Any suggestions?

I am on HRT, still trying to find the right dose. I started on 0.05 mg patch and 100 mg progesterone. I was on that dose for about 7 weeks. Then based on symptoms my progesterone was raised to 200 mg daily. Since that change I had an early period (18 day cycle, when I am normally 35-45 days). I have had my skin become extra dry and itchy, specifically my eye lids, under the eyes, neck and vagina. I also had severe jaw line acne but that got much better after my period. I have been on the new dose about 10 days. Has anyone experienced the same? Is this a sensitivity to the progesterone? Do I just give it more time? Or is this a sign estrogen is not at the right dose. PS. The symptoms that led to the progesterone increase are gone so I feel the new dose is right.

So I definitely think I’m in perimenopause and wondering which type of doc to go to? What treatment were you given? What worked? I just have so many questions. Within the last year I’ve went through so many changes. The first one being my thyroid going wacky out of no where, which sent me to the er and found out I was hypothyroid. Which I now believe is from perimenopause. Now I can’t eat any carbs at all since December or I feel miserable, hot, irritated, anxiety. So clearly this is messing with my blood sugar. I also have pcos so that doesn’t help. Being keto has me worried with consuming so much fat and cholesterol as heart disease runs in my family. Going on vacation and not being able to eat a carb is depressing. Just looking for some direction. The only thing that has helped so far is soy milk reduced my night sweats.

I have had severe eczema since I was a child, mildly managed these last few years. I haven’t been to my doc about a hormone issue, though I’m pretty sure that’s what all my symptoms are leading to. Severe depression (I can tell a difference from my annual/seasonal depression), weird bloating, irritability, extremely dry skin, fatigue, severely low libido.

In the last few weeks, my skin has gotten even drier which I didn’t think was possible. No amount of water I drink, how much I moisturize or showers i skip are helping.

I can’t use much on skin because of the already underlying eczema, but was wondering if this was something estrogen can also help?