How long did it take for your skin to change?

[wannalivethetruth]

Ive noticed a much softer feel to my skin in this, my first month, of taking hrt. The look, it really doesnt look that softer, idt. How long did it take for u to get that soft, glossy, "look" to ur skin?

[Muffins]

I noticed a noticeable change around one month but with every month it just keeps getting softer and softer. I'd say it was about a year before I thought it couldn't get any softer but ... two years in it's still getting softer!!! 0__0

[AbraCadabra]

I think like most of it is more a function of age (glossy, "look").
At my age I'm past that. Soooooooooo sorry. Soft, yes but glossy --- na...

Also since most of you never disclose your age (I do, Muffin does... easy for her :-)
that's all one can yes.

[Renate]

Softer (and thinner) skin means that you bump into something that you wouldn't have previously given a second thought,
but now you get a bruise or a scrape. Oh, well.

[Muffins]

...also feeling the cold more and then mentioning it to a male and they think you're just being soft ggrrr :/

No ...here *google* IT'S a FACT! estrogen = thinner skin!!1 xP

[Renate]

The cold is more a function of metabolism.
There is a reason why they say 2500 kCals for men and 2000 kCals for women and it's not just based on differences in weight.

[JessicaR]

It's hard to say.... so many of the changes happen over an extended period of time...

  I think we all spend the first 6 months looking in the mirror several times a day, looking to see if anything has changed, lol. The changes are subtle at first and you get obsessed with peeking at them... it's such a magical time. You have to be patient, though... I'm almost 6 years into HRT and I still see changes here and there.... There will be even more post-op..

  The simple answer to your question is you MAY begin to see changes in 6 months but your skin will continue to change for a few years after that.

[Lisbeth]

For me it was around three weeks.

[Caith]

My skin never really changed because it's always been pale, fair, and very tender.  Before starting laser hair removal eight years ago, I remarked to the laser tech I had male body hair growing from female skin.  She was also a redhead/ginger, and understood exactly what I meant. 

[Nero]

Okay for a guy to chime in? 
The only skin change I've noticed on T is suddenly I have pores! Lots of them. It also seems like the skin cells themselves are larger or more apparent. My skin's always been very thick and I'm not noticing any loss of softness except due to the increased hair in places.
The pore thing is wild though. I'd never even seen a pore before. So, what about you guys? Does estrogen make your pores vanish? 

[JungianZoe]

The pore thing is wild though. I'd never even seen a pore before. So, what about you guys? Did estrogen make your pores vanish? 

I live in hope...   Estrogen hasn't made a dent in the copious amount of oil my face produces, nor have I lost any pores.  Not on my face, or on my hands (the pores on my hands are friggin' HUGE and makes them disgustingly masculine).  Then again, I've only been on HRT for 5.5 months, so maybe it'll improve?  I hope so!

[Naturally Blonde]

Ive noticed a much softer feel to my skin in this, my first month, of taking hrt. The look, it really doesnt look that softer, idt. How long did it take for u to get that soft, glossy, "look" to ur skin?

My skin is just as bad after 12 years of HRT and is still very leathery. I've fouind that HRT hasn't delivered the goods for me so I make sure I get laser regularly and make sure I moisturise regularly which helps

[BunnyBee]

I noticed it softening in the first month.  In pictures my skin went from glossy (oily) to matte after about two months.  I think that was the first thing I saw that made me go wow, things really are changing!  As for pores, I can still see them on my cheeks if I shine a bright light, but they are definitely less pronounced.

[VannaSiamese]

In my experience, my skin is constantly changing.  I started hormones right after my 24th birthday, and have been on them for over 2 years now, and my skin seems softer and silkier almost every month.  I guess after about 16 months on hormones, my cheeks and other parts of my body became very smooth and reflective of light.  I also use a skin cleaning brush daily called the Clarisonic, which is absolutely amazing if anyone has some extra cash and wants to dramatically improve their skin.  I bought one for my mom, and for my sister, and now my whole family and a lot of my friends have them because they are so incredible (especially for taking off makeup). 

I also think your skin changes, like most other hormonal changes, vary depending on the age you started hormones.  Depending on how much you've aged as the opposite gender, it's going to take longer to reverse those changes.  Even though I started hormones at 24, I was at the age development of a guy who was 16 or 17.. in that I could barely grow any facial or body hair.  I was so behind in male development that when i moved here and started riding the bus at age 23, the driver would automatically assume I was under 17 and charge me for youth. 

[Amazon D]

Mine has become a lovely crust of calous skin from carrying hundreds of 5 gallon buckets of shale up to my garden as a pathway so i don't have to fight the roots and bugs too much 

[Joelene9]

  Two months, I notice a softer skin and the body hair started to thin.  Now at 7 months, the skin is quite soft and lighter, no porcelain though because of my age, I use SPF 60 or higher now.   I haven't shaved or waxed for two months, I wanted the hair to be a little longer to wax properly.  That's how slow the hair is growing.  My gray head hair is halfway down my neck and softer, I still have 2-3" of the original pre-HRT hair on the ends. 
  Joelene

[Naturally Blonde]

I started moisturizing after my first waxing...there was a noticeable difference in softness/smoothness on my face and arms (that's all I moisturize). Never did that as a guy before, it was always "too girlie"...LOL.

The things we learn... 

I've always looked after my skin and did those girly things since I was in my early 20's. I always used to moisturize and prepare skin masks but it hasn't made that much difference. HRT made even less difference. Very overrated in my opinion.

[japple]

The pore thing is wild though. I'd never even seen a pore before. So, what about you guys? Does estrogen make your pores vanish? 

Yep. It has to do with oil and chemicals coming through your skin.  My pores are way smaller and skin dryer.  I have to moisturize and use lip balm.

OP: I was on spiro for a month before estrogen but the skin change was the first thing I noticed.  Within three weeks my partner commented on it.  Two weeks on estrogen and it was very much girl's skin.  I lost all acne, smaller pores and people comment on my color and say my skin looks pink and vibrant.  Skin was a huge change that made me feel way better than I would have imagined. 

[Naturally Blonde]

How long did it take for your skin to change?

no idea?

[Ann Onymous]

Softer (and thinner) skin means that you bump into something that you wouldn't have previously given a second thought,
but now you get a bruise or a scrape. Oh, well.

true dat...there are days where I would swear if I just *LOOK* at my arm then it will bruise. 

As to the original question, though...it has been far too long to really remember when I began to notice differences.  That was close to 20 years ago.  Now the bruising and other associated issues are just a part of life...