Hormone levels and crappy skin??? - Menopause Message Board

stprdi · 04-15-2003, 11:43 PM

I'm 46 and post meno. In recent months my skin has taken on this really bad suntan look. It is blotchy and has lots of dark spots appearing. I look at photos from even a year ago and what a difference. It was lighter, even tone and relatively clear looking. When I first was entering menopause one of the first signs was a dark upper lip like a moustache. That faded with the HRT. I"m wondering now if my FSH and LH are off again and causing this to happen. I have also had alot of thyroid problems in recent months and my TSH has been all over the map. Levels of all hormones seem to be interrelated so could this be the cause. I've tried Retin-A and no improvement plus a host of other creams etc. I do have an appt. in 2 days. Anyone else heard of this

sunshine123 · 04-16-2003, 04:00 PM

Hi: I'm 53 and have those dark spots on my face too. I read that they're called Melasma. I started using a fade cream system from QVC that Joan Lunden brought on. It has faded the spots, but now it seems like it's too strong and causing irritation. My skin is very sensitive and everything I put on it causes me to break out. It's very frustrating. My hormones are all over the place too. I hope I live long enough to see the end of menopause!!! Sue

Jonathan92280 · 04-19-2003, 12:56 AM

This condition is known as "melasma." It's also called "chloasma." My mother has this and it is due to an estrogen imbalance. Many women have this either in perimenopause or when they are pregnant or on birth control pills or on hormone replacement (yet ANOTHER reason you should stay away from supplemental hormones!). It is 100% hormonal and not due to nutrition. My mom, age 57, developed this condition when she took the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen to prevent a recurrence. (Tamoxifen blocks estrogen in the breast but acts like estrogen throughout the body, meaning it affects the bones, cholesterol, what not). The melasma slowly disappeared when she went off it 2 years ago. The best solution for melasma is to first STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!! The tiniest bit of a tan will exacerbate this condition like you wouldn't believe!! Secondly, melatonin gets thrown off keal when estrogen levels are chaotic; some (inconclusive) studies have shown melatonin supplements will get rid of this but first ask your doctor. Topically, your best solution will be hydroquinone cream along with retinol and alpha-lipolec acid. These in combination work better than any of them alone. The hydroquinone though is first and foremost the most necessary. Mom's melasma started disappearing when she applied this to her face. Give it a try! Hope this helps.

~Jonathan92280

kat721 · 04-20-2003, 12:05 AM

Save time trouble and money and have a Reproductive Endocrinologist chart your hormones.
There are good answers for this problem.
Tamoxifen is a little bit rough on the side effects.
My mother and aunt take Evista.
There are also one or two newer SERM's like Tamoxifen and Evista.
The whole skin problem is a little bit more complex than just estrogen.
kat

P.S. I used a lotion with alphahydroxy and a 15 spf.

[This message has been edited by kat721 (edited 04-20-2003).]

stprdi · 04-20-2003, 12:42 AM

Thanks for the replies. I had read that estrogen could cause this. I am also on Synthroid. I have had a rough 2 years of major stress. I do know that nearly weekly I feel totally different. My lab tests show it to. I just don't know why the doctor can't pick up anything conclusive. He just says that thyroid antibodies being "slightly" positive is not high enough for Hashimotos. I don't understand that. My skin has gone from clear and light, even toned to ugly tan with dark and light blotches. Do you think stopping the estrogen might help? I have tried Retisol-A and it didn't seem to do much.