HRT and skin

[Padma]

I had my first electrolysis since going on hormones, at the beginning of this week. The electrolysist asked me if I'd noticed my skin becoming more sensitive, and I said "Not so far..." - but after the treatment, my face came up in weeping blisters which are still healing 5 days later. Grim. I'm going to try shaving today, could be gruesome.

And I used my usual depilation cream last night and got a nasty skin burn on a patch on my leg where I've had to use cortisone cream. This didn't happen when I used the depilation cream on the same patch before hormones.

I guess my skin is changing after all - I've been feeling like my face looks a bit different, but couldn't tell if it was just that something has relaxed now I'm on hormones .

[JennX]

Either that or the electrologist is doing it wrong. Electrolysis is somewhat of an art. I have extremely sensitive skin... and I was the same way years before starting HRT. When I rarely did shave as a guy, I could only use a razor once or twice before having to use a new one, in fear for cuts, burns, welts on my face. Now after HRT, with a very experienced electrologist, the red bumps and marks go away in a few hours... at the worst, they are gone the next day. This may not be the case with you, but it's worth considering.

[Padma]

My skin has definitely changed. My girlfriend (who hadn't seen me for 3 weeks) really noticed the difference, and when I had a blood test last week, the needle (which went in very gently) left a huge bruise, which has never happened before. I'll just have to talk it over with the electrolysist, she did already ask me if my skin had become more sensitive, so she's used to this issue. It's quite weird (and makes me very happy) that after 4 weeks on HRT my face is noticeably different.

Shaving has always been a problem for me too, could only shave every 3-4 days without blood loss. My electrolysist (who hadn't done me before) assumed I'd been on HRT for a much longer time, as my skin is naturally very soft already. I had to wait several days after this last session for my face to heal enough to dare shaving it, so I hope she can avoid causing this again.

[Cen]

Well, it makes sense that skin would be one of the faster things to change.  The surface is constantly being replaced by new cells from below.

[Butterflyhugs]

One thing I dislike about the change is how easily I bruise now 

And residual discoloration from minor cuts and scrapes seems to last way longer, too

[Akashiya Moka]

^Kristy, do you play sports or just bump into things a lot?

[Butterflyhugs]

I don't play sports; accidents just happen.

Like back in March, I passed out standing up looking in the mirror in my dad's bathroom and fell backwards into the tub, and got a friction burn on my elbow. There's still a slight brownish discoloration even after the wound itself has been long healed. 

[Padma]

Yeah, I scrape much more easily than a month ago, which is bad news because I'm a little clumsy .

[kelly_aus]

I've been packing my house for a move.. And my skin has become soft enough that the edges of cardboard boxes can cause scrapes and grazes.. 

[Butterflyhugs]

Try accidentally scraping your nails across your skin while taking off or putting on a shirt  Claw marks for 1-2 days

[JennX]

Try accidentally scraping your nails across your skin while taking off or putting on a shirt  Claw marks for 1-2 days

Our level of "invunlerability" is definitely decreased on HRT. When I used to get mad and punch a wall, I pretty much didn't feel much. After a year on HRT, I got bruised knuckles and pain/swelling for 3 days... Not one of the cooler aspects of HRT. You take the good with the bad, I suppose.

[Butterflyhugs]

I've never punched a wall so I wouldn't know the difference there 

But yea I know what you mean

[Beep]

When I used to get mad and punch a wall, I pretty much didn't feel much

Haha, you too?
I would punch holes right through the dry wall. If I tried that now, I would probably be cringing in pain.
It's unbelievable how strong testosterone can make you.

[Jayne]

Haha, you too?
I would punch holes right through the dry wall. If I tried that now, I would probably be cringing in pain.
It's unbelievable how strong testosterone can make you.

I'd say despicable instead of unbelievable, as a teenager I lost my temper with my dad, I picked him up & threw him about 3 meters & then punched my left hand through a double glazed door!
I know it's not much of a defence but I only lost my temper when he hit me in the face, at the end of the day there's no excuse for violence.
I look forward to the day when this poison is no longer coursing through my veins, when someone angers me I hold my temper in check but my thought can be so evil & violent it sickens me. when I reach this point it seriously effects my eczema so I battle to stay calm & happy.

[Padma]

Most problems have a simple solution. Softer skin? Find softer walls to punch . Avoid punching mattresses - the dust is appalling!

[Jayne]

Padma, just a quick question, how easily does your skin damage now & have your moisture levels changed?

I'm asking because i'm concerned about my how my excema will react to hrt, my biggest problems with it is heat & my mood, since moving into my new place & falling out with my mum on moving day my skin has gotten so bad that last week I was close to visiting my local hospital & requesting a bed, when it first came up it was so bad that I only got 1 hrs sleep in 3 days.

I wont let my skin stop me from transitioning but i'd like to prepare myself for anything it may throw at me

[Padma]

Jane, everyone's experience is different, so I can't help you really. All I've noticed is that my skin is getting softer and thinner. The skin on my face is perhaps a little dryer than it was, but that might just be the colder weather setting in. I guess all you can do is start HRT when you're ready, and watch carefully what happens.

[Jayne]

Thanks for the honest reply,

When I first saw a psychiatrist earlier this year he reckoned that once my mind & body are in agreement then my skin may improve as this inner turmoil may well be my biggest problem, since I came out my skin improved remarkably but recent fights with my mum have caused major problems.

Last week the skin on my legs was so bad I had to moisturise every 10 - 15 minutes, after a few days an infection set in & my skin swelled up & split open, it looked like i'd been attacked by a lion (either that or my hamster escaped & went a bit mental)
Once the extra skin started flaking I broke my personal record & removed a skin flake just under 2 inches by 1 inch, I should have saved it to get in the guiness book of records  if I didn't laugh about it then it would beat me so feel free to laugh along with me.

[lilacwoman]

electrolysis has to mark us as no way can we stick a hot needle in our skins without hurting it.
if we have white hairs we have the choice of electro or shaving.
hairs do grow out at different angle sso blistering and burning through will vary from place to place.  my cheeks and jawline jus get the red bump while the very public chin and lip hair seem to grow at a shallow angle and I get the blisters and burn through.
One day I'll have a smooth face but its a while off.

[Beep]

I used to have very oily facial skin. Now after about 8 months of hormone replacement, my skin is so dry that I flake up. Even when I wear sunscreen.