Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Amber45 on July 08, 2019, 12:47:34 PM
-
I would like to ask a question regarding HRT and hair
I was on the combined pill Millinette 20/75 for 2.5 yrs. While on the pill I was losing a lot of hair every few months so decided to stop taking it in October 2018. In December ( 3 months after I stopped) I lost half of my hair. Since then it has been growing however it is very dry and it will grow for a while and then it falls out. Lost hair mainly on the top of my head.
I also have had vaginal dryness which is getting worse, bad acne skin, joint pains, fuzzy head, waking up at 3 am, tiredness, nausea, low mood. Those symptoms come and go and I manage with them, I exercise a lot but I don't seem to make any progress with my hair. I have been taking VIVISCAL hair tablets for 9 months and my hair grows and then falls out. Is it due to fluctuating hormones?
I have been referred to a Gyno by my GP, the specialist concluded I had peri symptoms, she said they started earlier but were masked by my contraceptive pill and prescribed me HRT initially Femoston 1/10 (I had very bad nausea lasting all day) so took it for 5 days and now Estrogel with Ultrogestan. I have no hot flashes and regular but lighter periods now. My Estradiol was 404 and FSH 5.6.
Has anyone taken HRT to help with hair problems and did it help, please? Would you try taking HRT.
-
Hi Amber... I've suffered from thinning hair for the past couple of years. I have very fine hair anyway so don't have a lot to loose, I seem to have gone through periods of hair loss then it's been ok for a while and so on. I am the same age as you and am hoping the hrt will prevent it getting any worse . My mum had a similar problem , taking hrt prevented her hair loss getting worse and once she stopped taking hrt she had to resort to wearing a wig. She didn't want to stop but was refused by her GP! She's not around to ask unfortunately so I don't even know what she took. Although she had severely thin hair prior to the menopause it helped her greatly. I know everyone has a different reaction to hrt so I know this doesn't really answer your question but it is worth sharing I guess 😊
-
Hi Amber45
:welcomemm:
Before I got my dosage right, my hair was dry, very dry, and then after a few months on hrt, it started to go back more soft. Had to get it cut, because it had dried out, but after went back to normal.
I do have a problem with the one side of my hair, which seems to be thinner than the other side, but since using hrt it seems to be correcting itself now. Albeit slow, but I can see a difference. I'm on femoston conti, been on it for around 17 months now, so things havnt got worse, In fact, it's better.
I can't really say wheather you should try hrt or not as I'd be mortified if you posted back and said it'd got worse. I can only tell you what's happened to me....it's your call really, but I know it must be terrible for you losing your hair like that, and I've read its happened to a lot of ladies on here.
Sorry I can't be any more helpful, but I think it's something you have to decide as everyone is different and each hrt will effect us in different ways...hopefully, they'll find out why you've lost your hair, and yes hormones can do it, but there could be other reasons too like , vitamin deficiencies and stuff like that....hope you can find out the cause, and I really hope it starts growing back for you....good luck.xxxx
-
Hi Amber45
:welcomemm:
Before I got my dosage right, my hair was dry, very dry, and then after a few months on hrt, it started to go back more soft. Had to get it cut, because it had dried out, but after went back to normal.
I do have a problem with the one side of my hair, which seems to be thinner than the other side, but since using hrt it seems to be correcting itself now. Albeit slow, but I can see a difference. I'm on femoston conti, been on it for around 17 months now, so things havnt got worse, In fact, it's better.
I can't really say wheather you should try hrt or not as I'd be mortified if you posted back and said it'd got worse. I can only tell you what's happened to me....it's your call really, but I know it must be terrible for you losing your hair like that, and I've read its happened to a lot of ladies on here.
Sorry I can't be any more helpful, but I think it's something you have to decide as everyone is different and each hrt will effect us in different ways...hopefully, they'll find out why you've lost your hair, and yes hormones can do it, but there could be other reasons too like , vitamin deficiencies and stuff like that....hope you can find out the cause, and I really hope it starts growing back for you....good luck.xxxx
Mine has been dry for a long time but I recently started HRT so perhaps it will make a difference. I don't have a problem with losing hair. Mine is still very thick and fast growing.
-
I am sorry to read your post about your hair falling out, i have the same problem, but i am a lot older than you, and it is a strange time for mine to be falling out, as it would normally happen much earlier, maybe at the start of menopause, as fluctuating hormones can cause it,
I think mine could be down to stress, bur re,your question about HRT helping with it,
My Dr has given me HRT PATCH, AND SAYS IT SHOULD HELP WITH HAIR LOSS TO BRING IT BACK ,
tO LOOK AT ME FROM THE FRONT YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT STATE MY HAIR IS AT THE BACK,I HAVE A FEW BALD PATCHES,WHICH IS VERY DEPRESSING SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL
wHAT PATTERN IS YOUR HAIR COMING OUT IN, IS IT AT THE FRONT[HAIRLINE ] OR PATCHES IN VARIOUS PLACES,OR JUST GENERALLY GOING VERY THIN
So sorry caps were on by accident, i would just say go and talk to your Dr,it most likely is loss of oestrogen, can be thyroid related, but at your age i would think hormones
-
Hi ladies
Thank you for your kind support and quick reply.
I always had very thick hair, I remember my hair before starting the pill when I was 43 years old and I had loads of it. Then every few months when on the pill I would shed hair in the end I lost a lot hence I stopped taking it.
I would say it is thin on the top, you can see the skin in places but no patches but it is also thinner all over so there is definitely less of it. My ends are very dry, too. It's got to be something inside my body because I spent so much money buying various hair products with minimal progress. I try to be kind to my hair and not to use straighteners, etc.
I had my thyroid checked, it says all fine. Went to see my GP and her answer was you still have hair and when you get older you lose some.
What I worry about are the side effects of Estrogel, the leaflet mentions hair loss in side effects.
I just don't know if hair loss is good enough reason to take HRT it would help with other issues as well I guess but nothing else so far has worked since October 2018 >:(
-
Hi Amber- I'm older than you and post menopause now ( aged 58) been on HRT for 4 years now. Came off it for a while and once I noticed significant hair loss, went back on it again and have continued with it for the past 2 years as I believed that oestrogen was good for the hair. I know that some progesterones can contribute to hair loss, so It's swings and roundabouts.
I'd like to think that it's the HRT that's causing mine to shed, I've been to a trichologist who has diagnosed telogen effluvium ( overall hair thinning ) and quite often this is caused by nutritional deficiency ( I'm low on Ferritin and B Vitamins although they're still within normal limits )
I'm trying supplements, but he says it's not a quick fix , can take up to a year to rectify and sometimes it's a chronic condition, the hair falls out before the new one pushes through and more of the hair is in a shedding phase rather than growing or resting. I sometimes think it's improving and other times, I think I'm kidding myself on.
I have become somewhat fixated by checking out the hair of middle aged and elderly women and am astounded by the number who have poor,thin hair with scalp showing through. Not all of these women are on, or have been on HRT ,so there is something else going on here...maybe it's just a consequence of getting older and although not every woman will suffer hair loss, I understand that around 40% will do. We all react differently to the effect of hormones or lack of on our bodies so there is no way of saying if HRT will make it worse or better. I wish I knew the answer. I could have saved myself hundreds of pounds on useless hair products over the years.
-
My Dr has given me steroid lotion to try, have you thought of asking about anything that could help,
I am well past meno now, and although my hair did thin a bit, mainly at one side ,over the last 7 to 8 months it has gone almost bald in patches, it seemed to happen very suddenly really
It seems to tie in from when i went onto vagifem and livial, about 18 months ago,
Although i had been on livial in the past and had no side effects at all
I at first thought it might be thyroid as i also put weight on around this time,but had tests ad thyroid ok,
It seemed everything i searched connected with hair loss said low iron, or ferritin was often to blame,but i have Haemochromatosis which means iron overload, but my ferritin is never high, although i am told it is within normal range, but that could still be low where hair loss is concerned,
Apparently ferritin should be around 70 to 80 for hair health
I am now taking Spatone as i was told it has helped others with hair loss,
I had to go to my Dr in the end as the patches are very noticeable, or would be if my hair wasn't so thick from my crown down, the bald patches are sort of under that ,at the back, very little loss on top,
I am hoping the steroid lotion works,or the iron,
My Dr has now put me on Evoral Conti, but again the side effects say hair loss could be one of them
so just hoping something works,although Dr thinks they will help
It is strange because to look at me from the front i look to have very thick hair
I have also been taking Biotin, as that has been also recommended for hair growth, i think that is working for the hair i have as it growing very fast
I hope you can find out what is causing your hair loss
I have been told by several people on gransnet that the steroid lotion worked for them and 2 ladies said they had steroid injection in the scalp, and their hair came back, sounds painful but i would have them if neccessary
-
I also started to loose my hair while on BCP, I was 42 at that time. Hairloss can be caused by hormones or low ferritine. It's not easy to determine
which hormone though. BCP''s surpresses testosterone by raising SHBG and low testosterone can cause hairloss. Conversion from testosterone to DHT can also cause hairloss and of course low oestrogen and/or high progesterone. Maybe you can do a blood test for oestrogen, SHBG and free and total testosterone ( or Free Androgen Index I believe it's called in the UK) so you may have some guidance as it is complicated.
-
*Alicess* i do not understand about testosterone, some say high testosterone causes hair loss and others say low i was wondering if it was the livial as they have testosterone in them, but it puzzles me, how can i find out,?
I would have thought it was high that caused it, as it is a male thing and oestrogen is a female thing, although i know of course females have some testosterone too,and as some progesterone is an androgen ,like the one in Evoral, why does it say that particular one can cause hair loss,it is Northeristone
My Dr told me that the oestrogen would make hair grow and it would help me
-
Hi Jaycee, I do not know either, I just found out after reading a lot of research, experiences from other people and from my own experience that it is not as clear cut as it seems. And science is still in its infancy when hormones are concerned. From my own experience; my SHBG is extremely high, my free, unbound testosterone is non- existend but I lost half of my hair, I grew hair on my belly and my pubic hair falls out. f I take a more androgenic progesterone like levonorgestrel my hair stops falling and is less dry. Women seem to have way more testosterone than previously assumed.
Some progestins are more androgenic than others and can lower SHBG like Livial, Levonorgestrel and Norethiisterone,and are also more or less progestogenic. Urtogestan has no androgenic action but can increase SHBG. Almost all progestogens have more or less anti- estrogenic properties.
It's still not clear if testosterone is the one that's causing all the androgenic side-effects or if it's the conversion to DHT which is a way more powerful androgen. It is even suggested that DHT can be surpressed by taking more testosterone. SHBG binds most thighly to DHT, than testosterone and than estrogen. I could go on and on and make you as confused as I am....
Our own chemistry is what determines how we respond. I think that a blood test for SHBG can give some answers so you will know it is or isn't high testosterone. Livial has only weak estrogenic properties so it could be your estrogen was to low and hence the hairloss?
-
Alicess , thank you for your explanation, still confused though as i have no idea what SHBG is, i have not had any tests at all for hormones, i have read about DHT and i have seen shampoos with something in that is supposed to suppress it,thought about trying that
I really liked livial, but i seemed to feel tired on it eventually, but no other side effects, i am not sleeping as well on Evoral, and also having to get up at least once in the night for a wee, didn,t on livial
I have more energy on this, but had some headaches and upset stomach
It is strange that you grew belly hair and pubic hair fell out isnt it, as i thought if you had high testosterone it caused body hair to grow while head hair fell out, but you say yours was almost non existant
I think my testosterone naturally was quite high, so maybe it just didn't balance out with oestrogen,
I will have to question my Dr when i see him, i have to give this steroid lotion 3 months trial
I sometimes look and think hair is growing back, but white, but it could just be the surrounding roots growing,as the normal hair growth would be white
Not sure if i have got this right,or misunderstood what you said about Northeristone,i thought that was kind of testosterone ,
[Edited], to add just looked up Noretheristerone, which says it has androgenic properties, which is what i thought, but it is this in Evoral which it says can cause hair loss
-
Hi Jaycee, SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) is a proteine produced by the liver. It binds to hormones so there are no longer available for the body to use..It binds DHT, testosterone and estrogen with different affinity. SHBG binds most strongly to DHT, than testosterone and than estrogen It acts like a kind of gatekeeper I guess. Estrogen raises SHBG and testosterone lowers it. So if your SHBG is high than there will be less DHT and testosterone ( and estrogen to a lesser extend) for your body to use. In other words, even if a blood test shows testosterone in your blood is high that doesn't mean your body can use it if your SHBG is also high. If you should test your SHBG and testosterone you will know how much total testosterone your body is producing and how much testosterone is available for your body to do it's work ( free testosterone) This measurement is called Free Androgen Index.
Total testosterone minus SHBG gives free testosterone. Furthermore; DHT sensitivity depends on each person. Some have low affinity for DHT and its actions and others high. I hope I made some sense, my mind is kinda fuzzy.
According to wiki Norethiisterone has weak androgenic and estrogenic properties; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norethisterone
-
I got my free androgen index checked privately to see if it was causing the hair loss ( female pattern baldness )
It was well within normal limits and is not a cause of my hair loss and overall thinning.
Truth be told, I think there is so little known about the effect of menopause on hair loss that trying to find the cause is looking for a needle in a haystack.
Trichologist told me that for optimal hair health, Ferritin levels should be between 80-100.
-
Michelemabelle.i have been told that too, and as i explained in my earlier post,i am supposed to have iron overload, my consultant argues that my ferritin is within normal range, but i know mine is not as high as it should be for hair growth,i have been taking extra iron, whatever he says, as i know my ferritin has definitely been lower than 80 all last year especially, i see him again in August, and will argue the point with him, some of these Drs think they know everything and go by the book,
There is a lot about Haemochromatosis that isn't yet known,it was deemed to be a rare condition, but it is still being researched, and a lot to find out about it yet, [ in fact been as low as 8]
Just because he says it is in range means nothing, it could be 20 and still be in range, some countries say the highest it should be is no more than 250, here it was 50, now it is at 100, so they dont really know,
My twin sons ferritin was over 3000, which is far too high, but their hair is strong,and can hardly cut through it, so at least it proves that higher ferritin is better for hair than low, [not that high of course] but higher than 70
-
Thanks again Alicess,i will look into everything you have mentioned, maybe ask my Dr to blood test me,
I liked the livial, but as the oestrogen was so weak, maybe it just needed topping up to balance the Testosterone, i will suggest this, but as Michelemabelle suggested about ferritin i will mention that again too
I have looked at my hair again this morning, and the parting doesn't look as wide as before so hopefully something is working,
I have upped my iron intake so could be that or the steroid lotion, apparently the lotion can work quickly from people i have been in contact with
Also have been massaging my scalp, which helps the blood to come to the surface
-
Apart from the hormonal imbalance, have you tried Minoxidil?
I have past through episodes of hair shedding since I was 25. Always had hormone imbalance and heavy bleedings that caused anemia. When shedding hair, iron supplementation, L-cisteine and Minoxidil stopped those episodes and made me grow new hair. Since Minoxidil is a topical and has very few systemic side effects, you've got almost nothing to loose trying.
-
Cacarosa. Thanks for your input,i have thought about minoxidil, but it is a lifetime thing isn't it? and if you stop using it hair falls out again doesn't it? and is very expensive
I actually sent for a small size to try, but since seeing my Dr,i thought i would try this steroid lotion first,
I have upped my iron intake, which i am not supposed to do, as i said in my posts i am supposed to have more iron than i need but anything is worth a try
Are you still using Minoxidil?
I have no idea why it has got to this stage, i thought my parting didn't look as wide, and it doesn;t, but had a shock after washing my hair last night, as it looks worse than ever at the back, i seem to have one thick strand which actually goes over the bald patches
I am really worried that using Evoral will make it worse, but my Dr insists it wont, i have another month on this lotion before i see my Dr again, will just monitor it and see how it goes
I have to wear a hat when i go out as it is very noticeable,
Dr says it isn't in the usual pattern for female hair loss,and from the front no one would know,it looks quite thick
-
Jaycee, I've been on and off Minoxidil for many years since I was 25. Always started on it when shedding and stopped when I had my iron levels repleted or my hormones in check and no, my hair didn't fell out when stopped, since the cause of shedding was resolved. I think it must be used for life if you are a man and your alopecia is androgenic. But being a woman, once you eliminate the cause of the alopecia, the hair you gained stays there until you get anemia or hormonal imbalance again.
At the moment I'm not on Minoxidil but intend to start again because I'm anemic.
Minoxidil is expensive if you buy it as a registered trade mark (Regaine, Lacovin...) but is much cheaper if you buy the generic drug
-
By the way be careful with iron supplementation. You can get an iron intoxication if you alredy have healthy levels. I'd rather get iron from a healthy diet
-
Cacarosa, thanks again for your reply, the trouble is i don't know the cause, but would try try minoxidil if this lotion doesn't work,
What is it you use, the generic one?,as far as i know more hair falls out before it starts regrowth
Mine could be stress related, but without knowing i can't do much that i am sure will work
Do you actually know what your iron levels got to , that made a difference?
I have heard of people using Viviscal, but hair loss again when stopped using
-
Just seen yur last message, i doubt i will get iron intoxication, as i know they are not that high from blood tests which up to a couple of months ago, i was having every 3 weeks my ferritn builds very slowly but drops drastically, it dropped by 100 the last time i had blood taken, because i hadn't had any taken for almost a year,was 194, highest it has been for years,it dropped to 95
-
Jaycee
Yes, I use the generic version but I tried Lacovin and it really it's the same molecule so it's not worth paying more for it.
At the moment I have severe anemia, but I don't have the analysis here so I can't tell you exactly my levels. All my fertile life I've been battling anemia since I have always had heavy bleedings since my first period but bleedings got much worse when I was diagnosed polymiomatous uterus at 40.
If your alopecia is due to psychological causes I'm afraid I can't help you, don't know if Minoxidil could benefit you if that's is the case since my sheddings always were hormonal or caused by lack of iron.
Never experienced a worsening in shedding while starting minoxidil but it always takes two months to start seeing its effects
-
Never heard of Lacovin,is that the generic version, and are you in England or the US ?,maybe it has a different name here,
As you say ,i don't yet know the cause, so it is really trial and error,so much happened at once, split up with boyfriend [if i can call him that,at my age, but not really partner] which has taken it out of me,i lost weight and was very stressed and upsetat the way it happened, so could be that, also lowish iron, and problems in the family,so could be anything
-
Well, I am Spanish and live in Andalusia, so perhaps the Lacovin trade mark is local and not sold in your country. But anyway, I advise you to buy the generic, is much cheaper and equally effective.
Weight loss always caused me to shed some hair and it also got resolved by Minoxidil.
If its caused by stress it can't hurt to try anyway as its a very low risk drug
-
Cacarosa. ahh, i didn't think you were in England, but never thought about other countries for some reason, i expect the generic name will be different here then, i will google it and see what comes up, as you say can't hurt to try,
My son lives in Spain, more Alicante area, in a mountan area,i think the district is Castella he is renting a house at the moment, but looking to buy one, he went there 10 years ago, in a motorhome and lived in it for a couple of years on a friends land,
He and his partner are trying to get married there,but it has taken months of planning, whereas here it takes 3 weeks, mainly because they have to prove they have not been married before,
Are you having the heat, he loves the sun but now even he says it is too hot
Hoping we are getting some heat soon
-
I live in Seville and surprisingly, the current heat wave hasn't hit us too hard and it's being a very tolerable summer with cool nights. So strange since usually we reach 50°C or more.
-
That is strange isn't it? my daughter is in France at the moment on holiday and it about 43 there , she s too hot too, we are not used to those temperatures
We are supposed to get the African plume apparently within the next few weeks
I am going to look up that generic minoxidil now
-
Well, keep us posted on whether it works for you. But be advised that if the cause of the hair loss still subsides, after you stop Minoxidil your hair will go back to its previous state.
And be very careful when you use it: it can make you grow hair in places where you don't want to have hair. Always wash your hands carefully after applying it, and if it drips to your face, wash it out inmediatly and thoroughly. As a plus, you can also use it for growing your eyebrows applying it with an eye liner brush, if you want thicker eyebrows. But if you do this be extra careful not to get it into your eyes ... it stings :(
-
Thanks Cacarosa, yes i have read it is good for eyebrows, could do with more eyebrow, actually i use eye drops for prevention of glaucoma, and a side effect can be thicker eyelashes, not seen any yet, but i do put a drop on my eyebrows and they seem a bit thicker, also will grow hair on face if drips on it,so am very careful
I looked at a few youtube videos last night on hair loss, all kinds of things were recommended, like lavendar oil etc,
I am going to finish the steroid treatment first though,or if i try too many things i wont know what has worked [if it does]
I looked again at my hairless patches today, and i am sure there is a little growth, but can't really tell properly,i will get my daughter to look when she is back from holiday next week, i can only hope and pray,i know nothing will work overnight
I hope you ae feeling better,
-
Much better, thanks. Bleeding only sporadically one or two times a day and not too heavy. Feel less tired now, I've just come back from a short walk (I can walk again, yipee!). I think iron is doing its work. Qlaira hasn't stopped completely the bleedings but it is working even if I'm only in day 10. Everything looks better today :)
About those glaucoma drops, you can use them to grow your brows, those are much more effective for the brows than Minoxidil (I know, tried both). Ah, unluckily lashes go back to what they where once you stop prostaglandines but enjoy your lashes while they stay :)
-
So glad you are feeling better,is Qlaira Birth control pill,or HRT, or maybe an iron supplement ,not sure of your age so apologies if wrong about any,as i have not heard the name before,
Sadly my eyelashes have not grown either, maybe for the same reason my hair is disappearing. but i speak to a lady whose eyelashes have grown so long she has had to trim them, as they touch her glasses,also i read that the ingredient in those eye drops is being tested for hair growth, like minoxidil
I will be on these drops for a long time,maybe for ever,i dont know
Also almost forgot to say,that lady had hair growing under her eyes and had to wax it away
I will be sure to be very careful, [smile]
It must be nice for you to get some energy back, it is awful to not feel to have any strength for everyday activities
-
Qlaira is a new low dose BCP that is prescribed for older women in peri suffering from heavy bleedings. Many of the ladies here take Qlaira and many of them seem very satisfied with its effectiveness stopping heavy bleedings and peri symptoms. Its estrogen is the same used in most HRT so its considered safer than conventional BCP and a bridge to HRT for women still needing contraception and something more controlling than HRT since they still produce their own hormones. It is licensed for non smoking women under 50 but older ladies here still take it without any problems. I'm 46 :)
Prostaglandines take around three months to work their magic. But yes, they work. I used it for two years and got wonderful lashes. But sadly doesn't last after you stop.
-
Do you have treatment for your anaemia by the way of pills or transfusions?
I guess it is harder trying to get your iron up than me having iron taken out
Are you working,it must be very difficult trying to cope with work and home etc
I am retired now, i started off hairdressing so have always ooked after my hair, and been proud of the thickness and always kept it in good condition, but always done my own colouring etc
I avoid going to hairdressers if i can, i am hardly ever happy with what i have come out with
I sometimes have a mobile hairdresser come to the house, but only to cut it if needed,i usually do that myself too,
I will carry on putting the eye drops on my eyebrows and see if i can thicken them if not my hair,
I have looked up Lacovin, but the price says 999.9 euros, that sounds very expensive, surely cant be right?
-
They administered me IV iron at the hospital and then prescribed me capsules that make my poop black and hard :)
At the moment I am on sick leave fortunately :) I don't think I have the energy to work right now
Lacovin costs around 22€/per flask while the generic drug is around 12€ and double size (two 100ml flasks) I'm afraid you saw an scam link.
I suppose the generic brands should have similar prices there
-
Thanks for that info,i thought it couldn't be right, there are a few places that advertise it, but i suppose i could get my son to get me some, he has got me Retinol before as it is cheaper in Spain
I am sorry you feel so ill, i hope the iron helps soon
Could you take a more gentle iron? maybe not if you need a quick boost
I got some Spatone which is iron water, recommended to me, but i expect yours from your Dr have to be much stronger
Do you have hildren ,probably grown up now if you have,
I have 4 sons including twins, and a daughter, all left home now of course
Edited,just to say i have found a generic minoxidil, on Amazon called Kirkland ,and yes much cheaper, about £32, for 3 months
-
Glad you found it on Amazon. Didn't even know they sold it :)
I'm taking Ferbisol, the maximum dose. Those are retarded liberation capsules to minimize gastrointestinal side effects but it is a lot of iron to process
Guess pretty soon I'll be able to put fridget magnets on my forehead
No, I don't have any children, but my partner's teenager daughter lives with us. My partner, the poor thing has to endure two moody, hormonal women at once and is surrounded by tampons and pads
Really it must be hell
About retinoids, yes, I know many people who come here on holiday and stock up on Retirides. Spanish people do the same when going to Portugal, many people stock up their cold creams