15 Jun
Right. Nobody. Not one person. Not my mum, not my GP, not a single leaflet or magazine article ever said anything about the itching. I thought I had an allergy. Spent about forty quid on different washing powders. Saw my GP twice about a rash that wasn't really a rash. It's my skin, it's just... dry and angry and sometimes it crawls, which sounds dramatic but that is the only word for it. Shins. Upper arms. The back of my neck at night. I'm 45 and in full menopause after a surgical one two years ago and I genuinely feel like I was handed zero information about what would happen to the outside of me. I knew about the flushes. I was not prepared for the skin I've been living in since. I've got a dermatology referral finally (took some pushing, I won't lie) and I'm trying to go in with something useful rather than just 'it's itchy and I feel awful about it'. So I've been writing down what changed and roughly when. The texture shift came first, I think around six months post-op. The dryness on my face maybe three months after that. The weird itchy patches probably started last winter. Also started eating more deliberately, more oily fish, eggs, avocado when it's not an outrageous price, just because someone in a thread here mentioned skin and protein and it stuck with me. Can't say it's fixed anything but it feels like doing something. Has anyone else had to fight for a dermatology referral? And did you bring anything written down or photos? I'm wondering whether to show up with a little timeline or whether that makes me look unhinged 😅