I have recently started on bio-identical hormones and have been experiencing prickly itchy skin. I did not have this prior to staring this therapy. I would like to know if there is anybody else that has experienced any thing like this. I have been on them since November of 2006 and with in the last week they made my dose a little stronger after having my hormones checked again through a blood test. I am also taking 10mg of dhea because they said my level was low. The formula I am on is tri-est.

Do you have these skin sensations constantly or intermittently? When I apply my estrogen and it starts working I feel odd prickly sensations in my skin that go away after a few minutes. Also, if I let my estrogen wear off I feel the same odd skin sensations as the estrogen is wearing off. For me the skin sensations are a clue that my estrogen level is changing (going up or down).

10 mg of DHEA would give me horrible acne. I can only take between 3-4 mg/day. If you get acne, try reducing your dose.

Kathy

These sensations come and go. I know my hormones were really out of balance so maybe this sensation is just the levels adjusting. This past week the estrogen and progesterone was just increased. I have been on these since November of 2006. I take mine in pill form is your cream a bio-identical compound formula?

We experience so many different things when our homnes change it is just a comforting feeling to be able to share with others that are dealing with the same stuff.

I use plain estradiol in olive oil from the Women’s International Pharmacy (topically). I also have some Oestrogel (estradiol) gel. The estradiol in olive oil takes longer to absorb (up to an hour) but the estradiol gel absorbs really fast. If I let my estrogen dip (because I waited too long to apply my dose), I get odd prickly sensations on my skin wile it is absorbing. I get the same odd skin sensations when my estrogen is wearing off.

You could think about splitting your estrogen so that you take another dose/day. For example if you take 1mg/day, you could split that amout so that you take the total amount split into three doses/day (1/3 tab three times a day rather than 1 tab/day). Take the first dose when you wake, the second dose mid-day, and the third dose at bedtime. That way you will get the same amount of estrogen but it may give you a more steady level which may decrease your skin sensations.

If that does not work, I would try increasing my daily dose slightly to see if it helps the skin sensations. I am in peri and I have to change my dose frequently because my estrogen levels seem to drop really low around my period and then go up during the month. I try to take just enough to feel good and not have breast tenderness. Yesterday I messed up and forgot my midday dose and got a pre-migraine aura. I dosed with estrogen right away and when my aura wore off I did not have a headache—yea! I hate it that I can get a migraine because I forgot my estrogen, but I am so happy that estrogen seem to work better than any pain pill for getting rid of the headache.

You need to also make sure that you are not having an allergy to your new medication. If you increase your estrogen and your weird skin sensations go away after it is absorbed, it is likely that you are just feeling the wierd skin effects from changing estrogen levels. I like topical estradiol because I can adjust my dose up and down easily; I think dose adjustment is a little more difficult when you take orals.

Good luck!

Kathy

Thanks Kathy
I go back to see my Dr. in April. I don't think she ever does cream it is either pill form or troches. Are you taking any testerone at all. My Dr. usually does not prescribe that either because she said womon have complained of weight gain. Yet the more I research low libido it says testerone. This is sooooo frusterating. I am gonna ask her about dividing the doses through out the day to see if that helps with this prickly feeling.
Diane

Diane,

Yes, I take testosterone. 2-4 mg topically/day. I did gain about 5 pounds after starting it but I believe those 5 pounds came from extra muscle and possibly bone, not from fat. My clothing size did not go up. I gained another few pounds over the holidays but that was from eating too much junk and getting sick and not exercising. Since I cut out the junk and started back on my exercise program I have lost almost all of my gain since Christmas (but not the first 5 pounds). I felt more like exercising after starting the testosterone; I actually started using our weight machine that I could not bear to think about using before the testosterone.

I am careful with the testosterone. I do not think weight gain is an issue but I think that chin hair and acne can be an issue if you do not balance the testosterone with the proper amount of estrogen. I watch carefully for any sign of excess.

I know that both estrogen and testosterone help with libido and function. Have you had your testosterone level tested? Mine was “not detected” before I started the testosterone. Testosterone helps other things as well including the sense of well being, bone strength, skin sagging, anxiety, urinary incontinence…. Dr. Reiss goes over all the positives in his “Natural Hormone Balance for Women Book”. Do you have that book? Dr. Vliet also has a good testosterone book for women. One of the best things that has happened to me since starting the testosterone is that I no longer have stress urinary incontinence—yea!

If your doctor will not give you what you want, life is to short, find a doctor who will.

Kathy

Thanks Kathy I have not been on here for a long time. My testosterone levels are fine so the Dr says but the libido level is still low.