One in four women who suffer from eczema say their symptoms were triggered by menopause, according to a new survey.
This condition, which causes dry, itchy and irritated skin, affects around 1.5 million people in the UK.
Most people are born with it or develop symptoms in childhood, which usually improve with age. One in ten experience flare-ups of eczema in adulthood, triggered by temperature changes, skin infections, stress or contact with allergens.
But a survey of over 700 British women suggests there may be another major trigger: menopause. A quarter of the women involved developed eczema for the first time during menopause, which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Another 32 percent said they suffer from dry skin or eczema on their face, caused by menopause - when falling estrogen levels can cause skin to become drier and less resilient.
Declining levels of collagen, which helps with skin elasticity and firmness, also contribute to dryness and sensitivity during and after menopause.
Hormonal changes can lead to eczema flare-ups in menopausal and post-menopausal women.
These symptoms can be alleviated by using moisturizers regularly, drinking enough water and switching to gentler cleansers, says Paula Oliver, a dermatological nurse and consultant for the skincare brand Epimax, which sponsored the survey.
She adds:
"Dry skin and eczema during menopause can have a real impact on daily life and emotional well-being, but many women remain uninformed about what is happening to their skin until they experience it themselves."
Family doctors may prescribe treatments with topical corticosteroids or low doses of hormonal treatments. /Express newspaper/
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