Menopause can cause dry skin and itching, particularly in areas such as the vagina, eyes, arms, and legs. The itching can last for months to years and is often unbearable. Hormone replacement therapy is a common treatment, but other options include creams, herbal therapy, and homeopathy. While some in the medical community do not consider menopause and itching to be related, many women feel that the onset of itching corresponds to the onset of menopause and hot flashes. Women experiencing unexplained itching should watch for other symptoms of menopause.
Menopause and itchiness can go hand-in-hand for some women. The relationship between the two mainly corresponds to the occurrence of what are called “hot flashes”. Hot flashes are cases of extreme heat and a rapid heart rate and are a common side effect of menopause. Hot flashes appear to contribute to problems with already dry skin, which can also occur in menopause.
Literally translated, menopause means “monthly cessation”. It comes from the Greek words men, which means “month”, and pausis, which means “ceasing”. It refers to the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle due to hormonal changes that women experience, usually around middle age. The main symptoms of menopause are the result of hormonal changes caused by the cessation of ovarian function. Menopause is a complex and gradual process and affects different women in different ways.
Many hormones are affected by the onset of menopause, but the one most associated with itching is estrogen. Estrogens are responsible, among other things, for maintaining the elasticity of the skin. During menopause, many women experience dry skin, at least initially. This dryness can occur in many areas, but the main areas are the vagina, eyes, arms and legs.
The itching associated with menopause is often unbearable and can last from months to years. The usual treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and it replaces estrogen and other hormones. HRT isn’t without its risks, however, and many women choose to forgo it. Other treatment options may include the use of creams or emollients to keep the skin moist, herbal therapy, and homeopathy. It is recommended to treat itching, regardless of the cause.
The relationship between menopause and itching, however understandable it may appear with the involvement of estrogen, is not an entirely accepted correspondence. Many in the medical community do not consider menopause and itching to be related problems. Often, it is considered more of a psychological problem than a physical one by treating doctors. However, menopausal and itchy women often feel that the onset of itching corresponds to the onset of menopause and, more specifically, the onset of hot flashes.
If a woman is experiencing unexplained itching, she may want to watch for other symptoms including hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and mood swings. These symptoms may indicate the onset of menopause, which occurs before or after the last menstrual period. Other symptoms may also occur, including thinning hair, increased belly fat, and vaginal itching.
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