Unexpected skin change

[Sammym]

I've started to find some changes to my skin and scalp since SRS. Generally I've always had dry skin and a dry scalp, even through the last couple of years on HRT. Now it's really quite oily. Especially my scalp and hair.

I would have thought that there would be no real hormonal change post SRS considering that my T levels were low ( normal female range ).

It's a little annoying and is changing routines I was using for skin and hair care... I'm wondering if it could change again. Has this happened to anyone else? Did it settle or change again?

[Miyuki]

Did you stop taking anti-androgens before SRS? What seems to happen to some people is that after stopping anti-androgens abruptly, their testosterone levels (or their sensitivity to testosterone) can get out of control for a little while until their bodies rediscover how to maintain hormone balance. It happened to me after my orchiectomy, and I had to restart taking my anti-androgens at a lower dose to get things back under control. Taking bio-identical progesterone can help, since it plays an important role in keeping androgen levels in check for women.

[Ms Grace]

I know a woman for whom it was the opposite post-op.

I suppose the thing is that our T levels are kept low artificially but there is still a bit of T, then following surgery we can stop the medication and there is very minimal T (the testes aren't the only source)... but our endocrine chemistry is going to be somewhat different post op because of that. Maybe chat with your doctor?

[Sammym]

Yes, anti androgen was stopped three weeks pre SRS.  Although there were no real changes in those three weeks, or even the first week or two after SRS.

I'll just sit on it for now I guess. Nothing else is really different, and I feel fine otherwise.

[HeatherR]

Do keep in mind that your body still produces testosterone in much the same fashion as any female.  The difference is  that the androgen receptors were actively being blocked while on your anti-androgen.  So while you perhaps had more testosterone in your blood, it wasn't being used.  Since stopping the anti-androgen, what little testosterone you have in your system, your body is using it. 

[Sammym]

Since stopping the anti-androgen, what little testosterone you have in your system, your body is using it.

Ewww. Sounds horrible when you put it like that.

Actually I thought that Androcur fiddled with the pituitary gland to turn production off rather than messing with receptors like Spiro.

[iKate]

Spiro is a diuretic so when you're off of it you won't be as dry. I also noticed my skin became better and more moist when I started P.

[HeatherR]

Ewww. Sounds horrible when you put it like that.

Actually I thought that Androcur fiddled with the pituitary gland to turn production off rather than messing with receptors like Spiro.

Having T in your system isn't a bad thing in the amounts we're talking about. It would actually be a good thing.

[Sammym]

Actually, I suspect T was still at work in some capacity for those years on hrt. I say that because there were no hormonal withdrawal symptoms when coming off hrt before SRS.  I would have expected normal hot flushes, headaches, moodiness etc. But I didn't actually get that until a few days after SRS. Those symptoms even continued a week into being back on E.

Funny business these hormones.

[HeatherR]

Your levels don't decrease immediately, just as they don't jump quickly.  It can take some time for levels to go up and down, so that would make perfect sense.