For the past couple years, my ears have been extremely itchy. So itchy that I’ve brought it up to more than one doctor, none of whom have had any answers for me. Now, thanks to social media, I’ve been seeing this may be a symptom of perimenopause. Could that possibly be true? And if so, how? What? Why?
—Currently trying not to scratch my ears
While most people think of hot flushes and night sweats as menopause symptoms, there are many more symptoms associated with menopause than just those. In fact, skin and hair symptoms are quite common, and itching, or pruritus, can be part of those skin changes.
Itch is a complex sensation that we do not completely understand. (Even just talking about it has me scratching.) There isn’t much data regarding itching as a menopause symptom except that indeed it can be a symptom. There may be a few reasons itching occurs.
Dropping estrogen is the driver of many perimenopausal symptoms. As estrogen drops, our skin can become drier. Dry skin can become itchy.
Dropping estrogen is also the trigger of hot flushes, though some women don’t experience hot flushes per se, but rather just a general sensation of being warmer all the time. When our bodies sense we are warm, our blood vessels dilate. In areas where our skin is thin — our ears, for example — this increased blood flow can cause a little swelling and stretch the skin a bit, leading to itching.
Another possibility is related to the association between estrogen and markers of inflammation. We know that when estrogen levels drop in perimenopause, markers of inflammation in our blood increase. These markers of inflammation are also associated with some skin conditions, like eczema, that can cause itching.
Dry skin and eczema can both be improved with a good moisturizer. I like Aquaphor for delicate skin like ears. For itching triggered by heat, things that lower your core body temperature, like avoiding hot showers, may be helpful, but you can also just use a fan or turn down your AC temperature.
The upshot: Itching can be a symptom of perimenopause, though we don’t know exactly why. Trying to keep the itchy area moisturized and cool may be good first steps to relieve your symptoms.
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Does this apply to inner and outer ear, or just one?