Why Does The Menopause Give Us Itchy Skin?

Are you suffering from itchy skin? Itchy skin can be extremely frustrating and quite embarrassing; however it is one of the unfortunate most common symptoms during the menopause. It is caused by fluctuating hormones and the changing levels of oestrogen.

Generally, an itch occurs when your skin is irritated. This can be triggered by a number of things, from insects landing on you to allergies and skin disorders. The skin irritant stimulates a nerve reflex and the urge to scratch, this is to protect the skin by getting rid of the itch as quickly as possible. Excessive itching can lead to dry or flaky skin or even bleeding. Itchy skin can be caused by the menopause, sometimes affecting large areas of the body.

So, why does the menopause cause itchy skin? Read on to find out…

As you go through the menopause, the levels of oestrogen, the female hormone start to drop. Oestrogen has a number of functions, including regulating the moisture levels of your tissues and triggers the production of collagen. Collagen is a fibre that improves the strength and elasticity of the skin, if you have low levels of collagen, this can lead to the formation of wrinkles.

Therefore as the level of oestrogen in your body falls, so does the amount of collagen and skin-moistening oils produced. This causes your skin to become dry and irritated. Most commonly starts around the T-zone of your face, although it can spread over your whole body.

When your stress levels rise, it can bring on itching as stress stimulates the release of histamine, which can cause flushing, itching and sometimes skin rashes. As many mid-life women are dealing with stressful circumstances, managing their work lives in order to support their families and maybe having the stress of dealing with the death of a parent.

Also if the levels of uric acid rise due to dehydration and/or excess intake of caffeinated drinks then discomfort and itching in the skin can worsen. This factor may also contribute to soreness in the joints, another one of the most common symptoms of the menopause.

Here are some tips that might help you to treat itchy skin:

Keeping your skin moisturised is essential and one of the most effective means of relieving itchy skin. – When you take a bath or shower, don’t use steaming hot water as this will strip your skin of essential oils. A warm shower or bath is the way to go and it’s also recommended not to use scented soups as these can aggravate your skin. Finally exfoliate and moisturise your skin as soon as you are out of the shower or bath and dried off.

Drinking plenty of water – This will keep your skin hydrated. It is also worth remembering that alcohol and nicotine prematurely age your skin and dry it out faster. This will increase the chances of it becoming itchy, so cutting down on smoking and alcohol intake would be very sensible.

What you wear is also an extremely important factor as some materials like wool and some synthetic fibres can irritate even the toughest of skins, so wear cotton and loose fitting clothes. As with body wash soap, avoid any perfumed washing detergents or fabric softeners.

Try Menopause Support – A.Vogel, Soy Isoflavones and Menopause Supplement, just £14.99! This is a good remedy to start with and is the extract of soy. This supplement may be used before, during and after the menopause and can help with a variety of mild complaints experienced during this time of your life.

Try Neem Cream – £6.59 – naturally calms conditions of dry, sore and itchy skin commonly known for those who suffer from eczema, however it still works it’s magic on menopausal women who suffer from irritant skin.

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2019-01-18T15:57:21+00:00

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