Perimenopause and…itchiness?

[Anonymous]

I am having some like, persistent itchiness in different areas of my body that is driving me insane. The most significant is my lips and my vaginal/perineal area.

I do not have an infection (I’ve been checked!), I do not have an STD (I’ve been checked!), I have not used a new detergent, I am not over scrubbing (although was for awhile), I’m wearing dresses to “air it out” as much as possible but I’m two months into this and I’m about to lose my ever loving mind. The only that helps is hydrocortisone cream which I don’t want to use all the time down there. On my lips it’s almost like a rash around the edge that is only cured by like multiple times a day aquaphor. And then comes back a week later! And I have always applied nightly blistex and I drink a lot of water.

And I’m also like, my legs are itchy! It’s not as much of an issue as the others but it’s driving me insane. I take allergy medicine every day and my seasonal allergies have never done this let alone make me feel like I’m constantly on the verge of a yeast infection.

Anyway before I throw myself off a bridge I read that sometimes this can be caused by low estrogen. I’m 40 and have been having some issues with my periods I was attributing to possible perimenopause and I have been having night sweats occasionally. Has anyone had this itching?? How did you deal with it???

[Anonymous]

Dry skin?
Stop with the cortisone. Taper if you have been using itba long time.
Wash down there once with mild soap to get the last off.
Then only water inside the outer labia. I know it sounds filthy. But only water. Try it. My gyn said that and she was right.
The lip thing. You might be allergic to toothpaste or mouthwash. I can't use blue toothpaste, allergic to the dyes.

[Anonymous]

I had super itchy skin too. I’m on an estrogen patch now and it’s better. I cover myself in vanicream every other day after I shower and seems to have resolved.

[Anonymous]

Lower estrogen can dry your skin, which can trigger and then exacerbate your skin. That’s why lotion commercials talk about “dry, itchy skin.” It’s not in your head, OP,

[Anonymous]

There a cream with estrogen you can put in your vahina. I’d also put some on the lip.

[Anonymous]

You need to talk to you PCP or GYN. That's not typical.

[Anonymous]

This is happening to me too! Especially my inner thighs. Skin isn't dry. It's so annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to talk to you PCP or GYN. That's not typical.

Are you in peri? It is definitely typical. Itchiness and skin crawling sensations.

OP, you will laugh but I also freaked out, got a full STD panel (married 12 years) and then… a little bit of Aquaphor fixed it. My OBGYN chuckled when I told her and suggested diaper rash cream if it happened again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to talk to you PCP or GYN. That's not typical.

It’s very typical.

[Anonymous]

You need vaginal estrogen cream. It has a localized delivery and will help with the itchiness a lot.

If other peri symptoms have started, consider starting low dose HRT.

But the cream I mentioned above is a bery low-level intervention that could help you a lot.

[Anonymous]

yes - i gave it too and it drives me crazy!

where can one get the vaginal estrogen cream?

[Anonymous]

Me too, OP! My boobs are itchy and so are my armpits. Drives me crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes - i gave it too and it drives me crazy!

where can one get the vaginal estrogen cream?

It’s prescription.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yes - i gave it too and it drives me crazy!

where can one get the vaginal estrogen cream?

It’s prescription.

Your OBGyn although I’d hope any primary could too.

[Anonymous]

All over itchiness can also be low progesterone