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Menopausal Itching

 

For women in Surgical Menopause, hormonal changes due to either loss of hormones or hormone fluctuations can cause dry, itchy skin, and in some cases, a condition called “Formication”, where a person has a creepy-crawly sensation as though insects are crawling all over their skin.

 

After ovary removal in Surmeno, hormonal changes occur, most notably, the decline and loss of estrogen in the body. Estrogen plays an important role in building collagen in the skin, collagen is a building block, a structural protein, of the skin and is what gives skin the supple and plump appearance of youth.  Collagen loss combined with dryness caused by hormonal changes can cause sagging skin -- especially around the neck, jawline, and cheeks, as well as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Many have heard the expression that a person has “lost or is losing their baby fat”, which generally applies to the facial region, as a person passes from adolescence to adulthood, it is common for them to lose some of the collagen that is in their youthful skin, and it continues to decrease over time.

 

Estrogen also triggers moisture in the orifices as well as the skin, producing natural oils; which keep skin feeling both soft and moisturized.

 

It is the lack of both collagen and the loss of natural oils that can cause your skin to become thin, dry, and itchy.

 

While dry, itchy, patches of skin can occur all over the body for women in Surmeno, the most common areas of irritation are:

 

• Arms

• Legs

• Back

• Back of Neck

• Chest

• Face

 

To treat the dry, itchy skin brought on by Surmeno, you should consult your doctor to see whether or not you are a good candidate for HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). By replacing your declining estrogen levels, you can restore your skin good condition. Additionally, it would be a good idea to purchase a collagen supplement, to replace the collagen that one loses in Surgical Menopause.

 

Additional Skin Changes

 

Women in Surgical Menopause can also experience other new skin changes postoperatively. Some more common skin changes that can occur are hormonal acne, skin rashes, hives, pigmentation changes, and an increase of fine lines and wrinkles.  For these, in addition to working with a doctor to treat your underlying hormonal issues and using HRT, it would be a good idea to consult with a dermatologist to treat these issues superficially.

 

Paresthesia and Formication

 

Some women in Surmeno experience a “pins and needles” sensation of numbness and tingling known as Paresthesia. Paresthesia is when one experiences a feeling sensation with no physical stimulation to prompt it.

 

Women in Surmeno also commonly experience a form of Paresthesia known as Formication. Formication is the creepy crawly sensation that bugs crawling under or over the skin. The term Formication is derived from the Latin word “formica”, which fittingly translates to the word ant. The sensation can lead to the urge to itch, which tends to become worse at night and can affect sleep quality.

 

While both Paresthesia and Formication are linked to several other medical conditions as well as withdrawal from some prescription drugs, for women in Surgical Menopause, these conditions and their associated unpleasant physical sensations are brought on by either hormone fluctuations, or, more commonly, by estrogen levels that are very low or are dropping.

 

Again, a way of treating the symptoms of Paresthesia and Formication is through the application of HRT and having one’s hormones properly balanced.