Hi Everyone,

In the last 4 months or so on top of the wonderful dry itchy skin I've also noticed that I see more veins in my hands and the muscles in my calves are more defined. I also have wrinkles at the tops of my knees. Is this due to thinning skin? It's quite scary and I feel as if I'm becomming an old woman overnight.

Add this to the tingling, twitching, sputtering period, sweats, exhaustion and mental fog and I'm quite a site. Oh...and lets not forget the burning tongue and muscle/joint aches and pains. Am I deteriorating???

Hi TeeJay ~ Here are some {{BIG HUGS}}

Some days I feel like I'm falling apart at the seams. I too, have developed dry skin. I have to lather myself up good every day.

If we lose muscle tone as we age our skin can sags *yikes* and sometimes even with exercise it may still sag. A real catch-22. This may be the case with the skin above your knees.

If the skin has also become like leather, use a good hand cream as they are more thicker than body lotions. I would use it twice a day morning/night.

As for those annoying little veins, those are called spider veins. I have them on the sides of my thighs which I hate.

A dermatologist can get rid of the spider veins by injecting a saline solution into them through several treatments. Don't know if I'm there yet for that one

I've noticed that the skin on my hands is looking old no matter how much lotion I put on. Veins are noticable and I'm starting to get a few age spots. Other skin changes that I've experienced are unexplained rashes that lasted from a couple of week to a few months. Currently I am rash free.

Dicannon ~ First off, WAAHOO on being rash free *YES!*

Have you been using a good thick hand cream? If so, then my other suggestion would be to use a good oil, like vitamin E with gloves at night to see if that helps to soften them and perhaps smooth out some of the creases/wrinkles.

I notice when I don't have hand cream on, the creases/wrinkles on my hands appear more noticeable.

I've also started drinking Revival which could help with skin tone and getting rid of free radicals.

There are so great products out there for age spots as well. I battled the spots as well and if you are interested, you can read my post HERE

There isn't much we can do about our skin aging and looking old other than to see a dermatologist and have photo therapy done. Too bad I can't afford that right now *sigh* But when I can, watch out

Thanks for the responses ladies...
What really surprises me is how quickly it seems like all of these symptoms have started and changes are noticeable. My daughter came into the bathroom and commented on the wrinkled dimple above my knee. She said the more she hears abouth this menopause thing the more it freaks her out. I almost responded if she thinks she freaked out she ought to be me.
I'm sitting here now at work with tingling in my legs (mostly left), sore instep, soreness in my upper legs and left arm, sporatic twitching, and hands that get sore by the end of a days worth of typing....oh and lets not forget the burning tongue and mulitple trips to the bathroom. I just can't wait to go to sleep (with some help), continue the tingling and twitching and begin to sweat (all after a hard days work and being made to feel guilty by my husband because my libido is gone). I actually felt better when I was on my period awhile back.
I hope there's more to life than this......I really need encouragement that this will end and I will feel good someday.

Thanks Cheryl, I do use a very thick creamy hand cream. I've tried various things for the spots, but what it does is fade out my skin around the spots and not the spot itself.

I would love to take a trip to the dermatologist also. Maybe one day I will treat myself.

TeeJay ~ It will all end. Wish I could tell you when but just continue trying your best, educating yourself and venting when needed as well as getting some much deserved {{HUGS}}

I used to feel badly about not having any libido some cycles. At first my husband really didn't understand till I had him read a few articles about what I was going through and explained as well how I felt about it all.

I remember when my mom first started going through menopause. She totally skipped peri (lucky her) as she never remembers being bothered by anything till she turned 51 and had her last period.

I used to get freaked for her and feel thankful that it wasn't me but knew at the same time that it was just down the road waiting for me.

Any way, hang in there

Dicannon ~ I have been using Avon's Intensive Moisture therapy since 1987 and love it. I use the body lotion and hand cream.

Sorry that your skin lightens around the spot itself and not the actual spot. I promise if I win the lottery I'll treat us to not only some photo rejuvenation but a week at a resort spa

You know what would be great, I'm really into this idea now LOL...is if Dearest could get a great group rate a a resort spa for all us gals on PS. It would be a reunion

I bet Dearest would think it an even better idea if you did it for her

You're like a breath of fresh air Cheryl.

Julie x

Hi Ladies,

At the beginning of what I think was peri my face broke out (never even had acne as a kid) and my family doc thought hormones but just to be sure sent me to a dermatologist. He diagnosed mild Rosacea and gave me some creams to use which work really well. In retrospect I think my family doctor was correct and it was peri...but anyway I had a followup with my dermatologist today on my "Rosacea". He's a young doctor but I think he's really smart and when he diagnosed me over a year ago I had no other peri symptoms other than being at the right age. Today I talked to him about the changes I've seen in my skin and hormones. I shared my muscles twitching and how at times my skin seems to look more tight (or perhaps becoming thinner) because late in the evenings I can see the outline of my veins (even across the tops of my fingers). He said that hormones definitely effects the skin (and he didn't doubt that it was causing the twitching as well) and in peri since there is no balance in hormones and the pressure in my veins will fluctuate throughout the day that this was normal. He also looked at my legs which now are losing their wonderful curves and are dimpled, wrinkled and the skin seems to outline the muscle more. Again he said all normal and he thought the I might see slight variances until my hormones smoothed out. I think he really is a smart young man.

All of this is so unnerving and in the last four months I feel like I've done nothing but go to see various doctors and counsellors. By the way...when I told my counsellor yesterday (free through my employer so I thought I'd take advantage) about the many symptoms I've had that I believe are peri (muscle twitches, insomnia, aches and pains, shaking hands) SHE said...no I think you have alot of anxiety due to your childhood (dad was an alcoholic)...amazing that no one wants to give peri credit for wacking out your nervous system. The counsellor had experienced menopause but dealt primarily with hotsweats and some crying...no other real issues. Yes I have anxiety mostly due to peri

Thanks for listening...each day I get more and more reassurance and strength from the ladies on PS.

Julie ~ You've got me blushing

Teejay ~ Glad you went to the dermatologist and got some answers*thumbs up*

I've had acne since the 5th grade and kept hoping as I grew older, now pushing 45yrs, that it would disappear. No such luck *blah* What I have noticed, is that my acne now is based on my cycles when I get near ovulation all the estrogen causes me to start breaking out and then afterwards all the progesterone. I just can't win

My mom developed mild Rosacea as well in menopause. She uses some great stuff from the derma as well and its great that there are things out there that can help.

Yep, those hormones of ours fluctuate the entire day and I'd wish they'd stop LOL!

I have pop-out veins on the tops of my hands and feet. Get it from my dad. If I am hot or have exercised they pop out even more.

I wish I could say I've only gotten dimples in my legs since peri, but I got them in my early 20s. I'm tall and thin to boot, but it runs on my moms side of the family. I've got legs and hips like her

Sorry to her that the counselor thought your physical issues are not related to perimenopause. This is still an area where not enough people are educated. I truly believe us baby boomers will cause a radical change in the way this time of life is viewed and treated. It will take a little time. But as all of us keep fussing at healthcare providers etc. in massive numbers and demanding products and more, we will be noticed and things will get done.

At least that's what I think

I to have noticed so many changes in my skin, body, and moods. For me the worst part is itchy skin. This started about 6 months ago, sun spots, and more defined facial lines.

On the legs, spider veins!!!!

As for the hormones, they seem to change many times in one day. Today I had a really tough day, felt tired, depressed and lots of fatigue, at 10pm I suddenly had a burst of energy, crazy huh????

It really bothers me that more people are NOT educated for our cause.

Here at PS, I listen to all of you, and I see myself and know that this is REALLY a hormone inbalance. Thanks for sharing your stories.

Hugs to all, Jules

Jules ~ Itchy skin was the first thing I noticed *blah* It was thanksgiving day a couple of years ago. I used to be able to go for months not lotioning on a daily basis and for the last two years, I've got to put some on or my skin feels dry.

I fought spots on the tops of my feet for a year till I got them finally vanished. I thought at first I had some kind of rash. I think the spots is the worst for me and made me feel so old.

Sometimes my days are like that. I'm tired and lethargic and then I'll get a burst of energy. Gotta roll with the hormones