Hello, Im not normally an Internet person/poster but had nowhere else to go :-(

My First post.   

Im MTF and have Just started HRT 1 month ago. Have had 3 injections 2 weeks apart and have been taking Spironolactone

I have for the last week noticed a lot of skin flaking. I mean a lot. when i went in for my 3rd injection of Estrogen the doctor wasn't in to ask about it. I asked the nurse and didn't know either way and said wait to ask the doctor when he was back from lunch but I didn't  have time to do so.
I just figured wasn't a big deal and  the flaking had something to do with the normal part of transitioning and  maybe part of my skin just getting softer and thinner etc. from the HRT effect and becoming more feminine???

then i got to thinking last night and did some google searches and now I'm a little worried of  possible "Bad" side effects of Spironolactone?.  so here i am.

I know the best thing to do is call the gender center and make an appointment on Monday when the Trans Staff and hopefully the doctor is there and not out to lunch?

But for now I hoping somebody on here could put me at ease to what this might be or might be from? at least from their experience? And of course I will still make an appointment with the doctor.

Im aware of dehydration for sure but I've been up on that.
I Would like to add that I've always taken care of my self by diet and exercise. And work out a lot more than the average person and make pretty good food choices and don't drink or smoke. I pretty much only drink water. I do drink tea often and coffee on occasion but mainly tea and usually only in the morning.
I'm in my mid 40's and Im very lean at just under 6 foot and 164-166lbs.

Hope all that helps.

Thanks
In advance
Rachel





*No Dosages Please*

Might it just be dry skin?  I had that issue for a while at first but it eventually resolved itself.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

well its very flaky and peely like after a sunburn but without the burn.
never had like this before. and SOO out of the  blue. 

Hi Rachel!

Yes, I had the same thing occur. I even got ingrown facial hairs as the skin changed over...odd things are going to happen as the skin takes on a new consistency - softer, more sensitive, different color tone, etc.

Progesterone can help restore lost oil production if that's an issue for you, agave washcloth to exfoliate the body and scrub (gently!) off the dead skin cells, soft washcloth and warm water for the face, and a pumice stone for the feet. A bath with some jojoba oil or sweet almond or whatever type of oil works well with your skin helps a lot too. Then a moisturizer for any itchy or obviously dry spots. Welcome to the wonderful world of skincare! Or, as cis-females are so fond of telling me when I ask them for advice - welcome to being a woman.

Also, you may bruise more easily now. Enjoy being delicate! 

Hi Rachel 

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Hugs

V M

That is more severe than mine.  I had it mostly on my legs, arms, and face and the skin became very dry and reddish or grayish and a little flaky.  It did not peel like a burn though.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

Quote from: Rachel4now on March 04, 2017, 11:02:08 AM
well its very flaky and peely like after a sunburn but without the burn.
never had like this before. and SOO out of the  blue. 

Spiro is a diuretic and dry flaky skin tends to be result of that, I make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water and use a medicated body lotion

Quote from: IdontEven on March 04, 2017, 11:13:27 AM
Hi Rachel!

Yes, I had the same thing occur. I even got ingrown facial hairs as the skin changed over...odd things are going to happen as the skin takes on a new consistency - softer, more sensitive, different color tone, etc.

Progesterone can help restore lost oil production if that's an issue for you, agave washcloth to exfoliate the body and scrub (gently!) off the dead skin cells, soft washcloth and warm water for the face, and a pumice stone for the feet. A bath with some jojoba oil or sweet almond or whatever type of oil works well with your skin helps a lot too. Then a moisturizer for any itchy or obviously dry spots. Welcome to the wonderful world of skincare! Or, as cis-females are so fond of telling me when I ask them for advice - welcome to being a woman.

Also, you may bruise more easily now. Enjoy being delicate! 

Nice to hear,,,,,,, in the sense of IM not Alone.   

more so the last 3-4-5 days......... 

HOW long does this last?   

I do realize everybody is different but from your experience and / or anybody else reading this as well?

Thanks
in advance
Rachel

Your testosterone levels dropped and as expected, your skin got drier. Progestogens and especially testosterone keep your skin from getting too dry by stimulating sebum (oil) production. Also, spironolactone can do this due to dehydration so it's important to drink enough water and eat salty when you crave it.

Some girls find that by just removing or reducing Spiro, the skin dryness fades. Others find that by letting T levels increase a little or by adding bio-identical progesterone, things improve.

I'm post-op and if I just take estrogen, I have the exact same symptoms. Progesterone greatly improves this as does a very little amount of testosterone.

Quote from: Rachel4now on March 04, 2017, 12:03:21 PM


Nice to hear,,,,,,, in the sense of IM not Alone.   

more so the last 3-4-5 days......... 

HOW long does this last?   

I do realize everybody is different but from your experience and / or anybody else reading this as well?

Thanks
in advance
Rachel

The flaking skin? I'm not entirely sure - if I had to guess I'd say the worst might be over in a week, with smaller lingering issues for like a month?

If you flake skin from the same place for a while then there's another underlying issue. Think about how it works when you sunburn - once that top layer of damaged skin is gone it doesn't keep peeling indefinitely.

I didn't get the skin changeover until at a pretty high E dosage, which took about a year to ramp up to - though mine is sublingual, which may make a difference. But if you're only 1 month in, either the shots are way more effective, they started you out at a pretty high dose, or you badly need to moisturize.

This is perhaps a topic for another thread, but...if it is a dosage thing, you may need to be mindful of your emotional states - those changes snuck up on me, and the "ignore them until they go away" thing didn't work anymore. My emotions became things that had to be placated, rather than reasoned with...for me at least.

Take care of yourself

Quote from: IdontEven on March 05, 2017, 02:17:29 AM
The flaking skin? I'm not entirely sure - if I had to guess I'd say the worst might be over in a week, with smaller lingering issues for like a month?

If you flake skin from the same place for a while then there's another underlying issue. Think about how it works when you sunburn - once that top layer of damaged skin is gone it doesn't keep peeling indefinitely.

I didn't get the skin changeover until at a pretty high E dosage, which took about a year to ramp up to - though mine is sublingual, which may make a difference. But if you're only 1 month in, either the shots are way more effective, they started you out at a pretty high dose, or you badly need to moisturize.


Ive never had such a random skin flaking like that and i say like that because its now not an issue ( knock on wood ).

seems to have stopped peaked last wed. thurs. & fri

Must be related to the HRT regimen ?

Thanks to all who posted.

If anybody else has input I'm all ears.



This is perhaps a topic for another thread, but...if it is a dosage thing, you may need to be mindful of your emotional states - those changes snuck up on me, and the "ignore them until they go away" thing didn't work anymore. My emotions became things that had to be placated, rather than reasoned with...for me at least.

Take care of yourself

Moisturizing creams are around for a reason and one of those are dry skin. I have been on spiro for 25 years and did not really experience dry skin until starting Estradiol. But I think that is mostly my body adapting. It's been 60 years since my body had more E than T. May I recommend coconut oil moisturizes, smells good and is not that expensive. Also olive oil works well. Also keeping the internals hydrated is important and water is very important.

Dawn