I started taking some black cohosh mixture, just over a week ago, and then my maca came so I started with that too! No problems, but last Thursday I just ended up with a weird rash on my chest, just between my breasts, that was really itchy, and burning, as well! Heat rash from the hot flashes? I've never had a heat rash before, so don't know if it that or a reaction to the pills. It's still here, and it's Sunday, maybe a bit better now. It had actually travelled up my chest to part of my neck and really bothered me. I've been putting either benadryl on it, or aloe, and just today I put aspercreme on it and that seems to be helping too. Also, the weather here has been in the 90's which doesn't help much. Am trying to keep from sweating, which aggravates it of course. Little red bumps, and redness, feels like a pebbled surface! Will this ever go away??!! I decided to see a doc if it's not better by Mon., I'm making an appt.
The hot flashes had started to be less intensive I think, and maybe less often, but then this rash showed up so I'm not sure what's going on. I stopped taking anything just in case it's a reaction. Will try the Maca again once I'm healed up just to see if that was the case.
Would appreciate hearing if anybody else has had a rash like mine. Thanks!

I am getting the exact same thing! I have been experiencing like a pulling sensation between my breasts and it goes up towards my shoulders. With this I have developed little red tiny bumps inbetween and above my breasts. I also have them on my thighs and legs. Those are the spots where I seem to get the aching and I put cream on it such as myloflex and I am wondering if I am getting a reaction from it. But it gets so bad that I have to put something on it. Hopefully things will get better for the both of us!

[Argh!] How long have you been getting this? I had no clue until last Thurs., at work, it just started up! Am calling the doc today, hopefully I can get an appt.!
I wasn't putting any cream on or anything directly on my skin, and haven't been playing with poison ivy for at least a month!
It feels a bit like pulling, too, and tight. Sweating is a big problem, as that seems to make it worse, and can't avoid sweating in this weather unless I stay completely indoors and don't do anything. Not rich enough for that, have to work!

When I take a shower, the hot water scratches it for me and it feels like heaven! Hope the doc can figure it out for me, it's driving me mad!

I have been getting this for about two weeks. Before that I was getting them on my legs. It is irritating because as you say with the warmer weather it is hot and sweaty and that makes it more itchy. My husband is always yelling at me because I am scratching and I have my hand in my top! I also am going to the doctor on Wednesday and am going to show him the rash. But I doubt he will care because everytime I go to see him, he seems to sluff me and my symptoms off. It is as if I am bothering or being a burden to him. But I am demanding that I get a referral to a gynocologist , like I have asked for the last 3 months. I am just putting ozonal and/or polysporium on the rash so that it does not get infected. Good luck to you with your doctor!

Wow, that's awful! I went to see my doc today, and he thinks it's contact dermatitis. Probably something that I am allergic to, that I inadvertantly touched to my chest, (probably cause I was sweating) and my body is fighting it. He prescribed cortizone cream, prescription strength, as he says the over the counter stuff is useless. Says that I should start seeing results within 48 hours. He said the black cohosh, etc, shouldn't have caused this, unless one of the filler elements is something I'm allergic to. Good luck to you as well on your doc visit!

wistful and lucsmom,

I had that same rash about 6 mos ago. A frend suggested it was fungal, and told me to use blow dryer on it. I did that for a bout 2 weeks, along with anto-fungal jock itch spray. (as suggested by some ladies here on power surge)

The rash continued and I went to doctor. She cultured it, and said I had "killed it"

whatever it was. She put one of those clear bandaids on it, and said don't scratch it.

Well, that was useless. I then used heat and various creams for another 3 weeks or so and it went away.
Ladies here on PS suggested a dry skin lotion called Moisturinse by Oil of OLay, which you use in the shower )careful, it makes floor slippery_


After what seemed like forever, the rash went away. The shower cream smells great and has kept my skin moisturized.

Hope your rashes go away. Never had the problem before peri/meno... but sorry to say, have had 2 similar rashes on legs in the past few ,mos. Don't worry if hydro cort cream makes your skin leathery, it will go away in time.

OH, the joy"

Thank you! My rash is going away, thank goodness! Still don't know where it came from, but at least it's leaving! I just couldn't take it anymore, especially with it starting to crawl up my neck as well as being on my chest! It was horrible!
I can't imagine having a rash as long as you did, I would have gone bonkers! Anyway, I tried alcohol, ivy dry, cortisone cream, (over the counter) and even aspercreme! The aspercreme actually felt halfway decent, but it didn't get rid of it. Just kept getting worse.

You're right the menopause thing is really bugging me as well, think I'm getting ADD! Can't remember stuff 1 minute after either thinking about it or being told about it, and think I'm getting stupid as well
Hot flashes, and getting flustered easily are not my idea of growing old gracefully! This s*cks!!!!

Thanks for your reply, guess I'll have to keep some of the cream the doc got me just in case!