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[andius]

Anyone noticed an increase in allergies with menopause?

I developed a weird thing I mentioned on a different thread where any exposure to heat from the sun or from hot water (bath or shower) cause me to have a feeling like pinpricks all over that then started itching immensely. It also seems to come on with sweat from hot flashes.

If I cool off it goes away, but if I don't and I start scratching, I get little welts like insect bites where I scratch.

I've been doing research about this, and apparently allergies increase with loss of hormones in menopause.
I think what I have is cholinergic urticaria, which can be solar or aquagenic or idiopathic in origin.  Apparently the mast cells in skin secrete histamine when stimulated which causes the prickling/itching.  I haven't read yet about why the mast cells start doing this after menopause or why the hormone loss is associated.  It has gotten better since I have been on the patch. Maybe I have too much histamine these days?? Apparently it can be treated with antihistamines, but I haven't tried it.

Anyone know anything about this???

[rosie c]

Histamine levels tend to fluctuate with the level of hormones, especially oestrogen, at ovulation and just prior to the onset of menstruation. Or so I was told by my gp when i queried terrible itching at certain times of the month... so there is definately a connection. x

[ariadne]

I've had this mysterious itching thing for a while now and it makes me want to cry with frustration as I don't know how to stop it. It used to only happen after a shower but it sometimes happens after a bath and now sometimes for no reason at all. Its always my legs or arms.

Last night in bed for example - my right wrist was intensely itchy and every few seconds I had to scratch it until I wanted to scream. Then another random part of my arm would start itching and so on. I was awake until 2.30am. It sounds a trivial thing but it's really not.

Right now my left thigh is itching every few seconds 

Antihistamine does seem to help a little and sometimes I take them with a painkiller as well just to try and deaden whatever it is that sets the itching off. But I can't take antihistamine every day just in case the itching starts. Some days it doesn't happen at all.

I used to love a relaxing bath but now I dread them.

I have tried to drink more water in the hope that this will help but just when I think it has worked, a maddening itch will start somewhere and I'm back to square one.

I did wonder if last night's episode could be because of a 3 day gap rather then 2 since the last Vagifem. I used to use the 25mcg twice a week but now I use the 10mcg Tues, Thurs and Sun. Having said that, I'm sure I had the itching when I was using the 25cg as well.

You have my sympathy and I only wish I had the answer for you

ariadne xx

[Taz2]

This confirms that itching is part of menopause but doesn't really give any ideas as to what to do about it. It is always worth checking with the GP though to make sure that your thyroid is ok or that your liver function is good. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Itching/Pages/Causes.aspx

Taz x

[CLKD]

Also some medication can give a bad reaction to sunlight 

[honeybun]

Don't have to bother much about sunlight at the moment 

My itch is in the middle of my back. Just where I can't reach. It's much worse in bed. I have a hairbrush next to my bed so I can have a good scratch because I can't wake hubby up just to scratch my back.

I have had contact dermatitis for many years but it went into overdrive with meno. My hands have been sore painful. I come out in water blisters which burst and then bleed. I have been known to waken up having scratched my hands until they are bleeding. I have it under control at the moment but it can get so bad.

Honeyb
X

[CLKD]

Honeybun - gloves?  We put them on babies who itched a lot   

If my itchyness is bad I take Nurofen at night plus an anti-histamine in the evening ...... as the irritation is always late at night    I have a shoe horn as a back scratcher.

[honeybun]

I have cotton gloves CLKD. I always end up taking them off in my sleep 

I can never keep them on.

Honeyb
X

[Joyce]

Interesting topic. I get itchy too, but just thought I was extra sensitive to certain things. Never even thought it could be meno related.

Is there anything the menopause doesn't do to our bodies?

[andius]

  Thanks for the replies !

My liver function tests and thyroid tests are all normal.  Good cholesterol and the lipoproteins are great ratios.

The only thing I was taking when this prickly itching thing was bad was vagifem and vitamin D.  When I started taking hormones, it took 3 months to go away.  I have since been able to be out in sun in  swimsuit with no problems.

It is really weird.  When I saw the rheumatologist this year to see if I was developing auto-immune illnesses due to this symptom, as well as the vulvar/urethral burning not relieved by hormones, he told me that he had seen in  medical literature about gluten sensitivity developing in menopause that was assoc. with burning type symptoms that went away on gluten sensitive diet.  I tried this for 3 months without much benefit.

I quit wearing makeup in menopause due to sensitive skin developing around eyes.  I maybe wear makeup 3 or 4 times a year now instead of every day. Had to change soaps and shampoos and detergent also.  I never had an allergy before this in my entire life.  Always able to eat or do anything!!

Andius

[Taz2]

I developed an allergy to lots of different types of fruit before I went onto HRT andius. It is a common aspect of menopause but I didn't know that at the time! Now I am off HRT I again can't eat oranges, or tomatoes without coming out in an itchy rash on my arms and back. I put up with it though as I do love oranges!

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/allergies/articles/understanding-menopausal-allergies.htm

Taz x

[honeybun]

Well I never knew that. Hormones are linked to so many things. It explains why my mild dermatitis has increased so much when I do the same things I always have.

Thanks Taz


Honeyb
X

[Taz2]

I also used to develop a different type of blister rash on my arms when on the progesterone phase of HRT. I didn't link it into HRT until I started the conti type and the rash was there all the time and then, when I stopped HRT last time the rash disappeared only to reappear again when I restarted. I always used to get a rash before a period but didn't even wonder whether it was hormone related!

Taz x

[CLKD]

My mouth can't tolerate jams, it begins to burn .......... 

[Pussycat]

Dear Ariadne/Andius

I have come across your posts whilst searching around the forum.  I have posted myself today about the fact that I am suffering from urticaria (hives) and wondered if it was menopause related.  The symptoms you described are exactly the same as what I am experiencing.

It gives me some comfort to know that I am not alone in this.  I am currently trying to alleviate it with anti-histamines.  But I have a doctors appointment next week so will see what that brings out.

Pussycat xx