Why Do Some Women Have Itchy Skin Due to Menopause?
Menopause brings about many unexpected changes in a woman's body. Women not only experience hot-flashes and mood-swings, but some women experience severely itchy skin.
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Causes
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Estrogen encourages the skin to produce oil. During puberty, some young women produce too much estrogen and experience acne. During menopause, the sudden drop of estrogen causes the skin to dry out.
Symptoms
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Some menopausal and post-menopausal women experience severely dry and itchy skin. This itching can feel like ants crawling under the skin. It is not easily relieved with over-the-counter lotions.
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Treatment
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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) will alleviate dry and itchy skin as well as other menopause symptoms.
Risks
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Risks associated with HRT are small, according to the Mayo Clinic. These risks include stroke, heart disease and blood-clots. Risks are greater for women who take an estrogen only replacement than for women who take an estrogen and progesterone therapy.
Diet
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Increase the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet to relieve dry skin. Salmon and walnuts are two excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Katie Tegtmeyer
