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[Snowcat]

Hi.  I’m still recovering slowly from severe VVA with the help of HRT patches and cream but over the last few weeks I’ve had frustratingly annoying itchy armpits! Not constantly but every few days, lasting a couple of days each time.  I’ve done nothing new.  Tried all the obvious things - looked at deodorant, washing powder, shower products etc.  there is nothing to see - no redness, lumps or rashes. It’s always both armpits at the same time - never just one! All very odd - just in case it’s a hormonal thing I’m asking if anyone else has had a similar problem? It could be the tramadol I’ve been taking for sciatica or the recent increase in my Mounjaro dosage but someone suggested low estrogen so I thought I’d ask.  Thing is I didn’t have this before I started on the HRT when my estrogen levels were much lower… TIA.

[VioletAquarius]

I've had itchy armpits, not severe, but enough to notice I kept scratching them lol. I still occasionally get itchy pits.

Menopause does cause itchy skin. I also had a frequent itchy back, ended up getting a back scratcher!

[LittleClaire]

Yes this was/is one of my symptoms too. Mine is also both armpits at the inner side closest to my neck. It’s worse when in hot conditions but I have noticed since increasing my patches I don’t get it as much now. I did have red marks when it was really bad a bit like hives but that’s cleared now. It does sound like low oestrogen.

[Snowcat]

Thank you both for your answers - that’s very reassuring (not that I want anyone else to be suffering too!) mine are also mostly itchy in the same place Littleclaire
- not all over but the bits nearest my neck.  I have itchy ears too but I think they’re just a bit dry - maybe low estrogen dries us out - just odd that it’s a new symptom when my atrophy is a lot better than it was, it’s not something I had when it was at its worse - hopefully it’ll settle soon - did either of you put anything on them to help? I’ve tried hydrocortisone cream and antihistamine pills but although they help a bit, it doesn’t really stop it enough for me to be able to ignore it.  Funny how this little things can drive you crazy!

[Konijntje]

I have dry skin nummular eczema, so I know a bit about treating dry skin. ;-)
I wouldn’t use the hydrocortison cream if you don’t have eczema, but if you do have something that resembles a rash/eczema, it could help to use it next to a base cream like cetomacrogol cream (I think it’s called the same in English as in Dutch, but if you can’t find it, let me know and I’ll have a look).

I mainly use the cetomacrogol cream a few times a day on my eczema patches and another cream for dry skin on the rest of my body, because the other cream will absorb better (this is very individual). Hydrocortison is a class 1 corticosteroid, which is the weakest. The rest is prescription only, as it can cause your skin to thin if overused. I am currently using a class 2 corticosteroid on my eczema (I had a flare up from the diuretic effect of drospirenone, so hrt related), but my eczema is not clearing up completely, so might need a stronger one this time.

With a good moisturizing regimen, I had been eczema free for about 20 years, but I’ve had some reoccurrence since in perimenopause (treatable with the base creams up until this flare up), so low estrogen is a big factor for me too.

[Snowcat]

Thank you so much for your helpful reply - I don’t have excema - no redness or rashes - just itchy skin - armpits, scalp and bottom! I use hydromol in the shower & on my vulva and I will try to get a good routine going as I suspect this will be an ongoing issue - I’ve sent off for an alum free deodorant for sensitive skin too.  I often think itch can be worse than pain as it’s so hard to control!

[LittleClaire]

Do you find it’s also worse at certain times in the month? (Not sure if you’re still peri or post menopausal). I always find my itchiness a lot worse in the few days leading up to my period and also right after ovulation. Other times it’s not so bad. I’ve been using Aveeno moisturiser with the colloidal oatmeal as I get itchy in my groin, also bottom and my right forearm weirdly not the left! This does seem to calm it although if I’m certain my patch increase helped to clear up the armpit area. I could literally scratch it til I split the skin it was awful. Then going on holiday and being in constant heat made it worse  hope you get some relief soon x

[Lucoley]

This is my most bothersome physical symptoms. Not my armpits but for me my inner thighs. It wakes me up. No matter how much I scratch it persists. I hurt my skin. Ive tried anti fungal creams, eczema creams you name it. Till I eventually realised it was menopause. Drives me nuts. Unfortunately quite common.

[LittleClaire]

It’s awful isn’t it! Day and night I’m scratching my inner thighs right at the top where it meets my groin. It looks like eczema and gets so dry at times. Vaginal oestrogen cream does help a little and Aveeno but I’m sure it’s low oestrogen so if I’m at a time in the month when it’s low then that flares up inevitably.

[Konijntje]

It’s awful isn’t it! Day and night I’m scratching my inner thighs right at the top where it meets my groin. It looks like eczema and gets so dry at times. Vaginal oestrogen cream does help a little and Aveeno but I’m sure it’s low oestrogen so if I’m at a time in the month when it’s low then that flares up inevitably.

Have you tried topping up your estrogen the week before your period? It’s when your own estrgen drops the most, so if you have symptoms only that week, if you top up (with a quarter patch for instance or whatever you are using) just that week that might help.

[LittleClaire]

Yeah I did try that as I’m currently on Evorel 100 and I have some 75 left over so I’d cut one into a 3rd to make 125 but I felt jittery, heart racing and had a metallic taste which I think are high oestrogen and I didn’t like it so took it off. It’s a nightmare trying to get the right balance to ease symptoms I don’t know about anyone else ..

[Snowcat]

Do you find it’s also worse at certain times in the month? (Not sure if you’re still peri or post menopausal). I always find my itchiness a lot worse in the few days leading up to my period and also right after ovulation. Other times it’s not so bad. I’ve been using Aveeno moisturiser with the colloidal oatmeal as I get itchy in my groin, also bottom and my right forearm weirdly not the left! This does seem to calm it although if I’m certain my patch increase helped to clear up the armpit area. I could literally scratch it til I split the skin it was awful. Then going on holiday and being in constant heat made it worse  hope you get some relief soon x

Than you. I’m post menopausal so I’ve lost track what time of the month it is! 😂 I do have days when it’s not as bad though.  My patch was increased to Estraderm MX75 three months ago and seems to be doing the job down below but maybe I should increase it - Gynae said I could go up to 100 if needed so I’ll ask her when I see her next month.  As I keep getting thrush I think she might be reluctant to increase it though but I will ask - she’s quite easy to talk to.  Hope you find something to ease your itching too - occasionally I have itchy ankles and spend most of the night scratching it with the other foot! (Then I get cramp!) honestly it’s crazy - the more you think about it , the itchier things get! I’ve just read that dehydration can cause itchy skin in menopause too, so I definitely need to address that - if only I liked drinking water! I can’t have juice or squash as I need to avoid sugar & sweeteners.  Isn’t life fun? 🥴

[dangermouse]

That sounds like yeast in your armpits, it tends to like warm, moist parts of the body. You could try some Canesten cream, there is a weaker one for athletes foot that you could use.

[Snowcat]

That sounds like yeast in your armpits, it tends to like warm, moist parts of the body. You could try some Canesten cream, there is a weaker one for athletes foot that you could use.

Thanks Dangermouse.  I tried some clotrimazole cream (as I already had some) but it didn’t seem to do much - would it be yeast if there was no redness or rash though?

[LittleClaire]

I think the NHS limit is 100 on the patches then they tell you they can’t give you any higher, so you should be able to ask to increase one more time without them refusing. I went from 50, to 75 and then finally 100 before the nurse told me any higher than that is a cancer risk    and I’d have to revert back to my GP. I presume going private you’d get higher if you needed it. You have a point there about being dehydrated causing worse itching, ever since I was a kid I’ve never drank enough and have to force myself to drink water like you. I sometimes “forget” until I’m thirsty. The only time I really did was when I was pregnant and was told off my midwife to drink lots.