Post Menopausal? Help with skin issues

[tigerlily72]

I'm 49 and would estimate symptoms of peri-menopause started in my very early 40's. My GP confirmed I was in peri-menopause around 2.5 years ago based on a variety of symptoms. I have had NO periods since mid February 2020 and prior to that I went almost a year before getting a period.

Would you say I am now post menopause? I'm sure I've read somewhere that if you're under the age of 50 you need to go longer than a year without a period to have gone through menopause?? My periods have been months & months apart since around 2018.

Also, I've got some very dry flaky skin patches on my arms! I've never suffered with dry skin so am wondering if this is related? The skin on my lower arms has also changed in texture and appearance. The best way I can think of to describe it is "dimpled". Any ideas to improve this or products/creams that will help please as it's making me very self conscious.

[Wizboz]

Hi tiger Lilly. I’d say you definitely are post menopausal . I’m 54 and I’m going through quite a difficult time right now with symptoms ....bleeding after intercourses etc... hot sweats ... pelvic pain... had an hystoscopy snd it was discovered that My skin inside my vagina is very thin and I’ve been prescribed hrt cream ... which I’ve been using now every night for the last 3 weeks... I have to now only use it twice a week from now on. I can happily say that the sweats have stopped snd I’m feeling better. Hope this helped... I have dry flaky dkin around my nose snd I just use a light skin cream .

[tigerlily72 in reply to Wizboz]

Sorry that you're going through a tough time with it. Thankfully the sweats and hot flushes seem to have stopped! I've started to moisturise my skin on my body more now as I was very "ad hoc" before as I never had a need to. Hopefully then, I'm done with a lot of the unpleasant symptoms!

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

I have this myself..As fat cells increase, they push up against the skin. Tough, long connective cords pull down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling, often referred to as cellulite. Cellulite is a very common, harmless skin condition that causes lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen.6 Dec 2019

mayoclinic.org › syc-20354945

Use a gentle cleanser even in the shower or bath, and moisturising problem areas before skin is completely dry may help. Look at your diet, including oil rich foods can sometimes be beneficial. In some cases lack of vitamin D can result in dry skin problems. Basically the problem is likely to be linked to lack of Estrogen, speak to your GP for advice about this.

[tigerlily72 in reply to wobblybee]

I've been moisturising daily, having never previously really bothered as I'd not had a need to. I've got a body lotion for dry/very dry skin to help hydrate it.

Funny you should mention Vitamin D as I was diagnosed as deficient around 3 years ago and prescribed a high dose for a few weeks and then supplemented myself for around a year. I think I need to consider doing that again maybe, or looking into other supplements.

I also mostly eat fish (no beef/lamb or red meats) so need to increase my intake of oily fish like mackerel.