Itchy Skin During Menopause

Many of us tend to take the occurrence of itchy skin symptom very lightly. However, we are not aware that skin changes leading to itchy skin have the power to disrupt the normal routine life by causing distress and affecting sleep. Medically known as pruritis, itchy skin during the menopausal time is described as the unusual skin condition characterized by itching and Itchy skin rash. In addition, many women also notice acne, thinning skin, wrinkles, and skin pigment changes.

Associated with pruritis, paresthesia is a type of skin disorder that can hit women during the menopausal transition. Distressing touch sensation, paresthesia involves a feeling of numbness, pinning, tingling, and/or piercing of the skin.

Such skin disorders might hit during the stage of perimenopause or during the termination of menstrual periods ranging from three to ten years. However, sometimes, it might strike after menopause. In order to get rid of the itchy skin symptom, a smart woman will always first learn about its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Therefore, keep reading!

• SymptomsTo detect or diagnose itchy skin, one must first know its symptoms. Many women experience this symptom in varying intensities and frequencies. Some claim that their elbows and the facial T-zone get affected quickly as itchy skin grows, while some report that limbs, chest, neck, or the back get dry and itchy initially. A few menopausal women complain about the symptoms of formication, a type of paresthesia wherein they experience eerie and crawling sensations on the skin – as if ants or other insects are crawling on their skin. More strikingly, even the nails are impacted. Below are the possible symptoms of itchy skin during menopause.
  
• Small bumps on the surface
• Red skin
• Skin rash
• Dry skin
• Abnormal touch feeling such as numbness, tingling, pricking, and crawling
 
• Causes As itchy skin is the common symptom in menopause, the likely underlying cause is hormonal change. Estrogen is responsible for a good healthy skin in the sense that it stimulates the production of skin collagen that is a fibrous protein required for strength, flexibility, and support. So, as the production of estrogen declines, skin collagen also reduces in quantity leading to an obvious symptom of dry itchy skin. Moreover, the reduction in skin thickness and collagen level take place more quickly in the years of menopause. One more reason of itchy skin due to low level of estrogen is that there is also a decline in the body's ability to preserve moisture that slows down the production of natural skin oils making the skin dry. Another cause of itchy skin in menopause is the history of acne in adolescence. So, if you have passed through acne in your younger age, there are higher chances of it taking place during menopause because of the increasing androgen levels. There are other medical conditions that can induce itchy skin. Although these causes are rare, one must know them as well so that it doesn’t worry you when itchy skin is the result of seemingly unknown conditions. Listed below are those conditions or causes of itchy skin.
• Hypothyroidism
• Fungal infection
• Diabetes
• Skin cancer
• Lack of vitamins
• Herpes
• Side effects of drugs
• Drug abuse or withdrawal

It is recommended to speak to a trained dermatologist or other medical professional in case women are worried about itchy skin especially for worrisome symptoms. This is because this symptom can be treated, fortunately. So, now, we will have a look on its treatment options.

• Treatments

  A few self care techniques are among the most effective ways to deal with itchy skin. Most doctors do not prefer going for risky medical or hormonal treatments during menopause, but rather advise combining lifestyle changes with natural treatments, which are safe. Listed below are some of the effective and safe ways to combat itchy skin.

• Increase the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed, and soy.
• Consume more of vitamin B items.
• Drink a lot of water daily – some 5 to 6 liters daily – to hydrate the skin.
• Avoid hot showers.
• Moisturize your skin after bath via mineral oil and petroleum jelly.
• Use gentle soaps.
• Use a good sunscreen.
• Avoid irritants such as smoke, extreme sun exposure, stress, and lack of sleep.
• Combine all the above changes with natural supplements like herbs promoting hormonal production.