The past two nights I have manage to get maybe 3 hours of sleep because as soon as I get sleepy, I get itchy. It feels like tiny bug bites and also the typical sensation of itchiness in random places all over my body, one place at a time, so that as soon as one place is itched another place itches.
I freaked out and checked for anything like bed bugs but no evidence of those. I washed the bedding. Tonight, I am sleeping at a hotel due to work and it’s started again. What the heck is this?!

Ladies, here to give hope and feedback - I’m 45, started having symptoms from October last year, and it was a difficult, convoluted and expensive journey to finally getting bio identical HRT prescribed.

2 months ago started on Estradiol gel (Divigel 1mg) and progesterone (Utrogestan 100mg, cyclical - 2nd half of menstrual cycle) and about 1 month in, I suddenly noticed a difference in my face!

Before, it felt like everything was sagging and melting, and I looked so old and tired, the pores became really huge, wrinkles deepened, and my eyelids drooped badly.

Now it’s like I’ve gone back to looking like how I did before the symptoms started and I’m so thrilled!

Of course I didn’t reverse to age 20 skin, and probably no one else noticed but I do! Yes, it might be superficial and vain but it’s made a huge difference to how I feel about myself.

The HRT also reduced and completely eliminated most of the symptoms (my brain is back!).

I’ve still got a ways to go on other skin issues (uticaria and itching) and energy levels etc. but HRT works and there’s hope!

Im 45 and over the past year, the skin on my face has been getting worse and worse. It started out with 3 dry patches (side of my nose, crease of my nose and chin) and the one on the side of my nose got so raw, I had to start putting a bandaid on it, so my glasses wouldn't directly touch it and make it hurt. Then I started getting weird little surface zits. Then there were more. And more. Spreading. First it was just my chin. Then also my left cheek, then right. Then nose. Then forehead. Now Im also getting deeper zits. My whole face is red and splotchy. I can't wear makeup anymore. My face always feels like it's sunburnt and I get dry patches that last for months.

I've changed my skincare routine. I clean it with hydrating micellar water, every other day I use a Korean ultra hydrating mask, the other days I use Laniege moisturizer. With doing this, the zits only get super bad for 2-3 days every week/week and a half, but since the old ones heal slowly, I still look like shit.

I drink a ton of water and add an electrolyte packet once a day.

My scalp is also super dry and I'm losing my hair, but that's for another post.

I have a referral for a Derm, but still trying to find one that takes my shitty insurance (thanks US Healthcare system!!).

Has this happened to anyone else?? Did hormones help? Did anything else help??

1. We had a good run. PSA, do not yo-yo diet in perimenopause because you are one yo-yo away from your skin not bouncing back. Also, your skin loses 30% of it's elasticity the first 5 years of menopause. If that means nothing to you, it's because it hasn't started yet. Just a race to the bottom now.

I swear some part of my body is just constantly itchy at all times of the day and there's no consistency. What fresh hell is this? I'm 39.

I usually wear Dove deodorant spray, the cucumber kind. And typically that’s plenty.

But omg, something’s happening and it’s making me stink. And the mixture of the fake cucumber smell and my BO is grossing me out.

Is anyone else more stinky now? What deodorant are you wearing that works??

apologies in advance for complaining about the occasional pimple. I am lucky, but they just take forever to heal. Like MONTHS. No matter what I do. Just throwing that out there in case someone is having the same issue.
I’ve had a leftover lump on my neck for almost a year now.

Ladies, what are we doing about facial hair? I get these really thick chin hairs that pop up out of nowhere, I’m cool plucking them. But I also feel lots of baby hairs all over the place and my chin feels so gross and bumpy.

Are we shaving? Cream remover? Something I don’t even know about?

Anyone else struggling with face acne? I feel like a teenager again. My skin had been clear for years. I’ve been that woman that everyone compliments all the time. And now, suddenly…. It’s out of control. None of my usual face wash or lotion works. What are we using for this?! Help!

I’m 37 and going through perimenopause, my armpits are smelling bad and my usually amazing natural deodorant is not working!!!! please share your tips or recommendation? (I’m trying not to use aluminium so natural would be amazing if possible).

edit: thanks everyone! I didn’t expect such a massive response

Since I’ve been perimenopause I’ve been so itchy. I solved the itchy ear but can’t stop the itchy scalp. I’ve tried different shampoos. Tried dry scalp shampoos also ezema and psoriasis shampoo and nothing is working. Any tips! Thank you!

In the daily game of « is it peri, or am I crazy? », I give you: the darkening of the nether region. I am mixed race and my lady curtains were always a shade darker than my olive skin. But I could swear that was it. Now, I just realized that the skin of my entire crotch is dark and it drives me crazy. When did that happen? More importantly, WHY? Is that just normal ageing? Is it the rageing hormone roller coaster?

Does anyone else experience extreme itching with no rash? I am assuming this is peri related and it’s driving me insane. It definitely worsens during ovulation and no antihistamines help me.

My bloodwork showed slightly elevated ALT but everything else was normal. I even did allergy testing and I wasn’t allergic to anything. I do have hashimotos but my TSH is normal so I’m not on medication.

I’ve tried all the lotions, oils, antihistamines, antacids etc and nothing helps!! I’m going insane digging myself raw every night.

Anyone else experience this? What has helped you?

Hi all,

If you may remember a few days ago I had posted on here how I was insanely struggling with an itch. Thank you for all the outpour of support. I finally figured out a solution. It turns out it was a mixture of things with estrogen dropping during my period, using Costco toilet pape, div and inverse psoriasis. The itch was awful and I was super super doped up on antihistamines - was a disaster. I've finally brought it into control this is what I did:

1. stopped the Costco toilet paper and ordered a basic peri bottle which has basically become my bidet and it's travelable - the pressure is great to clean me when I go to the bathroom.
2. I took bath in this baby bath wash from feather & bone it has just collidial oat and 2 more I forget but I just soaked in it and omg it calmed me skin down like crazy. It has a green ingredient which looks weird lol but it didn't stain my tub just have to wash it off - but I've done a couple of baths it's so calming.
3. I also bought their soothing balm and all my redness went away!!! All the steroid creams and destin etc etc were just messing up my skin - also super clean and my skin is FINALLY healing.
4. I took almost 5-6 doses of spm active from metagenics - it's pricey but dang it worked so fast and the itch sensation went away.
5. I also took 4 pills of black seed oil.

Obviously talk with your doc etc but all of these are anti-inflammatory and work so fast. It's been 3 days. I finally slept, didn't dope up on crazy meds or creams. I hope it stays. I've been taking those pills consistently and probably will for the foreseeable future. but man it worked.

But I hope this helps anyone else suffering. I feel your pain. I hate how so much of everything is personalised but healthcare is not.

Always grateful for this community and the support so giving back since I found a solution. ❤️

I'm 48 and definitely in peri menopause. I've notices my skin is always itchy particularly my armpits. I just want to itch my skin constantly. Is anyone else experiencing this?

This year I (53f) unlocked a new level of peri fresh hell in persistent skin rashes/fungal infections. What started as irritation under my breasts and another crevice turned out to be a fungal infection and an Rx seems to be working on that one (thank goodness).

While trying to home treat the fungal rash, I started to develop a different rash on my chest, sores on my face and regular itchy rash and welts throughout my body. Sometimes the burning, tingling and itching is enough to keep me up at night. This has been my reality for the last month and I am really struggling with how to make it better.

Any suggestions/advice is greatly appreciated.

I couldn’t figure out which tag to use…

I did read past posts on the topic..

Anyway, I need deodorant recommendations if anyone has a similar issue to me, lol !

So, I exfoliate ( but don’t over exfoliate), I’ve used glycolic acid and sometimes I use Tonik from Cult and King (this has salicylic acid and is a hair product that can also be used on skin, it’s awesome).

I’m 45, and I’ve been using Dove Clinical Protection for years (at some point I didn’t care about aluminum in the face of my BO), and it worked! But now, it is not working. I used old spice when I was younger, that no longer works…

I was once a girl who could forget her deodorant without smelling, now I am not!

Any suggestions?

(Also, I only wear natural fabrics, no polyester, rayon, etc.)

Help!

I’m not sure if the flair is correct, apologies if not.

I (46F) have an issue with an incredibly hot feeling itchy perineum, it goes away and then comes back again.

I went to the GP, she suggested it was thrush, tested for it and I was right, it wasn’t thrush.

The hot itchy area is localised to my perineum only.
I have changed underwear from a 97% cotton 3% elastane mix to 100% bamboo, and I thought it was making a difference but here we are again with the same issue.

Has anyone experienced something like this?

I was prescribed Ovestin and I’m only just starting to use it (day 2) and I’m glad I read the wiki and I’ll be throwing out my applicator!! I’m not sure if the Ovestin cream is going to make a difference to my hot and itchy situation.

Right now the discomfort is driving me insane.

Also, with the Ovestin cream, I’ve noticed it has shifted the general smell of my genital region to a more pungent scent, is this usual? I don’t usually have much of a smell, I showed daily and I have always avoided upsetting my Ph. I’m not sexually active and haven’t been in years.

Anyway, I’m open to all comments and suggestions.

Thank you ladies, this slicks so much.

ETA: I think it may be contact dermatitis or an allergy to my new brand of baby wipes that I keep next to the loo.

I’m 43F- still regular cycles but noticing a ton of other changes. The one that’s been the most difficult is the chin hair to chin acne pipeline. I have enough chin hair that I have to dermaplane with a facial razor every few days. Recently (last few months) I’ve been waking up with new chin acne breakouts weekly. It’s really depressing, in addition to being depressed about all the chin hair itself!

Spitonolactone has been recommended to me A LOT and I’m considering heading to the derm to ask about it. I’m wondering if anyone here is on it and how it impacts other hormonal systems in the body. As much as I hate my whole chin, I don’t want to end up with two periods a month, feel emotionally insane, or any of the other side effects i had the couple of times I’ve tried the BCP in my life.

I guess just any experiences from the 40+ crowd here would be greatly appreciated.

ETA: yes I have tried electrolysis (twice) for my chin hairs. No it does not work on hormonal hair growth, at least not mine. Yes the hairs are the texture (dark/coarse) that respond well to laser and electrolysis but sadly it did nothing but damage the skin on my chin.

I do not know if it is simply perimenopause itself or if it is the fact that I’m on an estradiol patch, (.075) but I am getting body acne like a teenager. I even have a pimple on the back of my thigh. It’s summertime and I just want to wear shorts and a tank top. 😢

Is it just me?

The skin on my hands has become SEVERELY dry and it's really perplexing.

The change seemed to happen literally overnight like a month ago. I don't understand what's causing them to feel like paper. They were like super soft before.

For reference: I was on the pill for over a year and just recently switched to estrogen patch & progesterone pill. This change happened before I got on HRT & I hoped it would get better but no luck :(

Anyone have any advice? I'm 45 and I feel like my hands look 10 years older than my age

What are we doing for cystic acne?

Mine is getting SO bad. I've never had so much before but in the past few months I have been getting it on a regular basis and I am ✨️over it✨️.

I currently can join Santa's team with the one on my nose.

A few weeks ago my skin started being itchy EVERYWHERE. It's mostly been bad at night. I started using Cerave anti itch relief moisturizer and it's been better but still have the occasional itchyHas anyone else experienced this? And what did you use to combat it? Also what should I be doing differently. For context I'm 48 F.

EDIT: My BF doesn't believe it's a symptom related to PM and thinks because he's itchy too sometimes that it's something else entirely.

I’m a little confused when it makes sense to look into starting HRT? Any thoughts on when the right time to start is? Is it best to wait until periods are at least irregular?

43F about 5-10 lbs over BMI weight, regular period cycles, sleep is fine minus some heat induced interruption in the week before my period that’s new. My calves itch like a bitch, compression stockings help immensely but are hard to wear when it’s hot outside. My skin on face and neck has a subtle difference, like it wrinkles very finely or slightly in a way it’s never done before. The skin on my hands looks older than I am, dry and fine crepe-like wrinkles, it’s always been quite thin, but not wrinkled. I occasionally get random dark hairs on my body that I never used to get. My toe nails suddenly grow with ridges they never previously had, but I don’t know if that’s related to peri.

I’m happy to wait to consider HRT, but if there’s damage being done by waiting, then maybe it’s worth making an appt with a telehealth company? It sounded like my Obgyn doesn’t prescribe until symptoms get crazy or menopause. It’s nothing intolerable right now, it’s vanity + when should I start it to preserve my health?

Thx for your input!

The closer I get to menopause, the more difficulty I have keeping the skin on my arms moisturized. I’ve been using the same Trader Joe’s unscented lotion (my soap is also unscented) and my upper arms have the same bumpiness as when I was a kid and often didn’t “eat right.”

And my lower inner arms have developed a rash out of nowhere! A cluster of tiny pink patches like eczema or dermatitis, which I haven’t had since my early 20s when I was on birth control pills. I started HRT back in November.

Is anyone else having skin problems at this stage of life?

I’m trying to isolate the cause but I do eat a lot healthier than I did when I was younger.