Dry skin

[Worvera]

I have Microvascular Angina and on a lot of meds. Does anyone else suffer from dry skin? I pile on lotions and potions topically and also take collagen but my arms and legs particularly have paper thin dry skin. I'm 58 and expect some of this but it does seem to be worse than I'd expect. Thanks in advance 🙂

[Worvera]

Sorry that was meant to say I am 68!!! It's because I can't believe it ha ha 😆

[Tos92]

Hi Worvera.

I also have MVA (microvascular angina) and have not yet experienced dry skin from any of the medications I am taking. Which medications are you taking? It might be worth reading the patient information leaflets that come with the medicine to see if dry skin is a side effect.

All the best.

Tos

[Happyrosie]

also, I wonder if you should revisit your diet? I think that if you look at foods containing vitamins B and C this might help.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

As well as your heart medications, (statins can cause dry skin) it maybe related to getting older and being post menopausal.

Also hypothyroidism can cause dry skin. Are your thyroxine blood levels checked regularly?

[Saraia]

My mum prefers aveeno. And I believe it’s mainly about your diet. Have plenty of water, oily fish, olives and lots of vegetables. It should help.

You may wish to use oil rather than cream if your soooo dry.

[Qualipop in reply to Saraia]

Aveeno is the only thing that helps mine. I have big flakes of skin lifting off my legs. Diet makes absolutely no difference

[Barre01]

hi

I have suffered from dry skin in recent years, always got worse when the central heating got worse in autumn.

I stopped using soap in the shower and switched to using an emollient - helped significantly.

[AuntyEdna]

Hi I see you have Hypothyroidism - that’s what did it for me : dry legs arms even eyebrows! etc as soon as they got my Levothyroxine dose right it ‘almost’ totally disappeared. I’m on statins calcium blockers aspirin and lots more besides.

E45 cream helps me , good luck tracking down the dry skin culprit ☺️

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I had terrible psoriasis but the meds I take have stopped it for now but I have terrible dry skin I didn't realise that statin's could cause this as well. I don't use soap, shower gel etc I use balneum oil in my shower and epimax emollient cream they are both prescribed by my GP. I struggle with my hands they are constantly dry with washing them all the, if anyone could recommend a non greasy hand cream I would be grateful, char

[Qualipop in reply to Thanksnhs]

Aveeno isn't greasy and feels lovely.

[Qualipop in reply to Thanksnhs]

My GP says they have tried everything available but I've never heard of balneum. Mine is definitely caused by lack or hormones. It started age 40 after a hysterectomy. I took HRT for 10 years but the minute I had to stop it my skin became dreadful. That was 20 years before I had any heart problems and medications although I have taken opiates for over 20 years. I have huge flakes peeling off my legs and arms and my elbows and knees look dreadful; like crocodile skin. Emollients do absolutely nothing and I'm allergic to E45. The only thing that helps but I have to use it daily is Aveeno. I've even tried bag balm which is used in America a lot - they use it to moisturise cows udders. It didn't help at all.

[Thanksnhs in reply to Qualipop]

Hi that sounds awful especially when you can't find anything to help, my skin especially on my legs is really thin now after using steroid cream for so many years at least my psoriasis is away now the only advantage of being on immunosuppressants 🙄 char

[Qualipop in reply to Thanksnhs]

Mine's thin even without steroids. Bumped into a door handle and ripped off he top layer of skin about 2 inches across. Took a month to heal.

[Thanksnhs in reply to Qualipop]

Things like that happening scare me, I am terrified I get an infection even if I get a wee nick I always have savlon and plasters at the ready. Char

[Qualipop in reply to Thanksnhs]

Doesn't worry me except for the nuisance of having to cover it

[Qualipop]

Sorry I haven't looked to see if you're male or female. After the menopause my skin became horrifically dry and still is. Despite gP giving me aqueous cream and others, absolutely nothing has improved it. On my legs especially I can peel of huge flakes of dead dry skin. The only thing I've found to ease it is AVeeno hand cream but it's not cheap and only works just when you put it on. I have to use it every day. The creams they give you to bathe with and dangerous as they make the bath slippery and they don't work at all. My elbows and knees look dreadful. I exfoliate in the bath with some gloves but then have to really lather on the Aveeno. Like you I'm h oping someone has better ideas. It's not my medication I'm afraid. It's age and lack of hormones. I had an emergency hysterectomy and ovaries aged 40. PS my skin was fine while I was on HRT.

[Wanderinglady]

H I, I’m 70 and my ski is definitely drier since being on my heart meds. I’ve had oily skin all my adult life until 18 months ago when I was diagnosed with heart problems and put on loads of meds. I think it’s the Bisoprolol because the dryness has been much worse since my dosage was increased a few months ago.

[Worvera]

Hello everyone and thank you all so much for the advice. From what you are all saying, it would appear that I'm a prime candidate for dry skin as I tick all the boxes of post menopause, Hypothyroidism (I've taken Levothyroxin for almost 20 years) and multiple meds (including a statin). I've used Aveeno and even Vaseline. I drink loads of fluids all day long and I have a really healthy diet. I may try to see a dietician to see if I can improve in any way. It actually made me feel better to have all your kind responses. It can be a lonely old journey this heart disease can't it!!! Thank you again ❤️

[Saraia in reply to Worvera]

hugs

[Harefieldfan]

hi. I also have dry skin, and scaly itchy skin in the folds of my ears. I wasn’t aware that statins might be the culprit. I use Aveno and have just bought E45. Have been using a steroid but think I should stop this. I hope you (and all of us) find a solution that you can share.