I am 53 years old and have noticed that going through the menopause has affected my skin, with significant increased dryness and itchiness and is making an impact on my appearance and daily life.
I think more research into the effects of the menopause on eczema and skin health is needed, with more support being made available to women who are feeling the effects on their skin, along with all the other effects that menopause brings
I’ve always suffered from mild to moderate eczema on various places on my body but mainly hand eczema. My eczema has been bad enough in the past 18 months or so that I am currently having dermatology appointments to discuss and look at treatments other than topical ointments etc. I was not permitted to give a blood donation back last August because of my hand eczema which I found upsetting and embarrassing.
In my 20’s I visited my GP about my eczema and started using topical steroids to control the flare ups, I was constantly reapplying an emollient to moisturise, this worked well for me, but as I grew older and the need to use the topical steroid on my hands increased.
I have always been aware of trying to use topical steroids sparingly, but I continued to use them with reasonable results until reaching menopause where I found that they were now no longer helping my hands.
I decided to leave work in 2017, to support and look after two elderly parents, even after stopping work my hand eczema continued.
By the time 2022 came around, I had visited my GP several times regarding treatment for my hand eczema, and despite me asking numerous times, I was not referred to dermatology. At this time, I made the decision to stop using any steroid treatment on my hands.
I’m fairly confident, I then experienced topical steroid withdrawal. My eczema became very painful, with red inflamed skin that was cracked and sore places all over. My hands looked the worse they had ever been. I was feeling very low and desperate to know what to do.
At this time, I was also suffering from acne rosacea, with flare ups of this again becoming more frequent with the menopause and at different times within my monthly cycle. My skin had become so much dryer all over my body which I believe is due to the menopause, especially noticeable on my lower legs and forearms, on my scalp and ears, sometimes the itchiness is terrible, and I had to think about what’s best to wear so not to aggravate my skin and avoid itching triggers like central heating.
In the end, after speaking with my husband, who is thankfully very understanding about my problem skin, I decided my only option was to pay and see a dermatologist privately. In December 2022 I travelled to Exeter from Cornwall for an urgent appointment and was prescribed a tapering course of oral steroids (prednisolone), a course of lymecycline tablets, to try Protopic as an alternative treatment for my hands and a Epaderm as an emollient.
The dermatologist also referred me into the NHS system to be seen and monitored. Thankfully these treatments helped tremendously, with my acne rosacea clearing up with no return, however my hand eczema and other mild body eczema returning in the months after finishing oral treatments.
I think more research into the effects of the menopause on eczema and skin health is needed, with more support being made available to women who are feeling the effects on their skin, along with all the other effects that menopause brings. I’ve always known my eczema could be a lot worse and many people suffer with it far greater than myself, but when it’s on hands, it’s so visible and I’m embarrassed by how they appear and sometimes people do ask about them or comment how sore they look.