Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: EmC on October 26, 2022, 09:03:23 PM
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Has anyone else been plagued by eczema during menopause.
I suffered as a child but grew out of in my teens and never really had further issues with it until I hit my late forties when my right hand suddenly became covered and only strong steroid creams could help.
As I hit 50 and menopause came along it seemed to get worse to the point where I had to take antihistamines daily to try and reduce the itching. About 6 to 8 weeks ago it spread up my arm and was constantly getting infected so Dr gave me antibiotics and more stron steroid cream.
I started HRT 3 weeks ago and my eczema has totally subsided and the itching has stopped. I now think it was probably increased cortisol levels causing it as an inflammatory response.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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Hi EmC
I developed eczema in my 50's.
I did a lot of research on late onset eczema but could find nothing about it.
So I went back to basics and researched eczema in babies and found the common reason to be milk allergy.
So I tried avoiding milk for a two week trial and the difference was amazing.
My skin calmed down so much that I changed my diet, went to black coffee, soya milk for cereals and soya yogurts.
I couldn't find a decent cheese substitute but got to accept goats cheese.
It's certainly worth trying for a couple of weeks.
I still get flare ups but a couple of days of steroid cream normally gets it under control.
Good luck.
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Hi EmC
I developed eczema in my 50's.
I did a lot of research on late onset eczema but could find nothing about it.
So I went back to basics and researched eczema in babies and found the common reason to be milk allergy.
So I tried avoiding milk for a two week trial and the difference was amazing.
My skin calmed down so much that I changed my diet, went to black coffee, soya milk for cereals and soya yogurts.
I couldn't find a decent cheese substitute but got to accept goats cheese.
It's certainly worth trying for a couple of weeks.
I still get flare ups but a couple of days of steroid cream normally gets it under control.
Good luck.
Hi Carina, definitely nothing to do with milk or cheese in my case as they’re excluded from my diet and have been since I was a child.
I tested for allergies when I was younger and dairy was one of the positives. But even before that I’d not really eaten or drunk them much as I hate the smell and taste of milk.
I definitely feel my eczema this time around has been more of an autoimmune or inflammatory response to high cortisol as the itchiness used to be worse when I felt high stress or anxiousness.
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Hello EmC and welcome to the forum.
I wonder if auto immune conditions become more prevalent with the menopause? I understand that Oestrogen has anti inflammatory properties so a decline might make developing one of these conditions more likely.
I had struggled with digestive issues for years but they became much worse the same month I had my last period. I was then diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis which is another autoimmune disease.
Keeping inflammation as low as possible makes sense to me and to help myself I gave up meat and dairy. Fortunately I like all the dairy substitutes including vegan cheese which is made from coconuts.
I hope your HRT continues to control your eczema and perhaps other ladies will be along to offer more advice.
Take care.
K.
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>big hug< :bighug: do U have related asthma?
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Hello EmC and welcome to the forum.
I wonder if auto immune conditions become more prevalent with the menopause? I understand that Oestrogen has anti inflammatory properties so a decline might make developing one of these conditions more likely.
I had struggled with digestive issues for years but they became much worse the same month I had my last period. I was then diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis which is another autoimmune disease.
Keeping inflammation as low as possible makes sense to me and to help myself I gave up meat and dairy. Fortunately I like all the dairy substitutes including vegan cheese which is made from coconuts.
I hope your HRT continues to control your eczema and perhaps other ladies will be along to offer more advice.
Take care.
K.
Hi Kathleen and thank you 😊
I just had a consultation with a specialist menopause nurse through the Peppy App I get via my workplace.
I mentioned the eczema and HRT situation and she agreed that it was likely in my case to be connected.
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>big hug< :bighug: do U have related asthma?
Thank CLKD I really need a hug right now.
Yes asthma was also a childhood issue that subsided although it’s not returned like the eczema did in my peri or meno stages.