Is Itchy Skin a Menopause Symptom?

This is a very common question at Menopause and the answer is yes it might be, or no it might be something else!

I understand that is not very useful, but below you will find some possible reasons why your skin is itching and much of it will depend on your hormone balance, your lifestyle and diet.

What is it?

Feeling itchy can be both uncomfortable and often upsetting, and can start suddenly.

Perhaps shopping, working around the house or visiting friends when suddenly that itch starts. It may just be a little and bothersome, or suddenly your whole body feels as if it’s burning.

It can happen anywhere –  face, neck, arms, legs, scalp or in the genital areas. Not only itchy, but you can get hot and your clothes can make it worse.

If you are truly unlucky you can be affected by a condition that’s very, very similar and it’s called formication.

Why unlucky? Because this feels like tiny ants are crawling up the inside of the skin. With this one, you don’t get any of the warning spots, or red patches, or rashes. It’s just this constant itch that you can feel under the skin.

So what can cause or make itchy skin worse?

Stress

If we are under a lot of pressure, which menopause brings us no matter what we think about it, and we also have daily stress, our bodies can make a substance called histamine.

Histamine causes swelling and can very often make skin feel itchy. You may suddenly notice your skin turning red, then it starts to feel itchy and very uncomfortable. So very often, these small spots are caused by histamine.

If this happens often, then write down what you have eaten and drunk before it happens because there is a connection to something else when this specific type of itchy skin occurs.

Sun exposure

If your skin is thinner, you will have less protection from bright sunlight.

During menopause, you might go on holiday and find your skin burns much more easily or you get itchy welts or hives (red, raised, itchy bumps) for the first time in your life.

Often it is simply because the skin is much thinner and reacts more strongly to sunlight.

Skin products

It could be your soaps, body washes, body lotions, or shower gels. It can even be your laundry detergent or fabric softener.

If your skin is thinner and much more delicate, it may start to react to things that have never caused a problem for you before. These are things we often do not notice, but they can be common irritants.

Hot water

Again, if your skin is more delicate, then taking a hot shower or staying in a hot bath for a long time can make the skin react more strongly.

Sweating

If you experience frequent hot flushes and sweating, especially in skin folds like under your breasts, arms, or between your legs, this can definitely cause itching.

If you sweat and these areas don’t cool down because air can’t reach them, you might develop rashes and itchy skin there as well.

What helps?

Once you find the cause and remove it if possible, there are definitely some things you can try that will be helpful.

Increase your omega-3 intake

Consider your essential fats, which are omega-3 from fish. If you don’t eat fish, you can choose flaxseed oil, and there’s omega-7 from sea buckthorn oil.

Both of these are good for your skin. If your skin is dry, let alone itchy, sea buckthorn and flaxseed oil can be very calming. You take these by mouth, not just by applying them to your skin.

Drink more water

If your skin is becoming drier and thinner, not drinking enough water is a major reason. So, be sure to drink lots every day. Just water though, not tea or coffee.

Also, if your nervous system is causing a histamine reaction, not drinking enough water is often a big part of it. This is because when you’re dehydrated, your body has a much harder time getting rid of histamine.

Protect yourself from the sun

When you go outside, make sure you use a good amount of sunscreen or stay covered with loose clothing to avoid getting sunburned.

Natural antihistamines

It is worth considering these as they can help reduce inflammation. Natural sources include nettle (available as a tea or tincture), quercetin (found in onions and apples), and bromelain (found in pineapples).

They can also be found as supplements in health stores.

Helpful information
Menopause can be frustrating, and if hormone balance is a concern, it’s good to know that progesterone has anti-inflammatory properties and can help with other menopause symptoms.

In this case, Serenity, which contains only progesterone, can be beneficial. If you are also experiencing dry skin, then Wellsprings has a combination cream – Twenty to One – which includes both progesterone and a small amount of two natural oestrogens, and that might be better for you.

You may also find the following article useful.

https://blog.wellsprings-health.com/6-ways-to-minimise-itchy-skin-at-menopause/