• Menopause
• Hormone Replacement Therapy

How to Relieve Perimenopause Itching

Published: August 08, 2025
Updated: August 08, 2025
5 mins

Menopause is a natural process that occurs when a woman’s menstrual cycle stops for 12 consecutive months. During menopause, women experience symptoms like hot flashes and trouble sleeping due to drastic changes in hormones. However, even before menopause officially begins, women may notice these changes in their bodies during a stage known as perimenopause.

While health experts have varying opinions on when exactly perimenopause starts, irregular periods are a common sign of its beginning. One of the most prominent symptoms affecting your skin during perimenopause is persistent itchiness.

Skin irritation from perimenopause occurs because of a drop in estrogen levels. Lower estrogen and collagen levels during and right before menopause can lead to increased dryness in the skin and vagina. Some women may experience itchiness from dryness in their scalp and other places on their body, like the ears, legs, and arms.

Itchiness is not the most common perimenopause symptom. Women with preexisting skin conditions like eczema may be more likely to experience skin irritation during perimenopause than others. However, health experts do have tips to help women navigate changes to their skin and other health complications as their hormones fluctuate around perimenopause.

Common Perimenopause Symptoms

Perimenopause and menopause symptoms tend to overlap. For every woman, symptoms vary depending on preexisting health conditions, hormonal health, and environmental factors. 

How early you experience perimenopause depends on when the ovaries first begin producing less estrogen and progesterone levels shift. For most women, this occurs around their late 40s and early 50s. However, it’s normal for some women to go through perimenopause earlier or later. A woman can experience menopausal symptoms for as long as eight years or as short as two years.

Other than itchy skin, you may experience the following symptoms during perimenopause:

• Weight gain

• Vaginal dryness

• Mood swings

• Trouble sleeping

• Hot flashes

• Night sweats

• Fatigue

• Brain fog

Collagen levels in the skin tend to peak in a woman’s early 30s and gradually decrease as a person ages. Collagen is a structural protein in the skin that helps keep the skin moisturized and elastic. Around the time of menopause, some women may begin to notice wrinkles forming on the skin. Wrinkles are more likely to appear as the skin loses elasticity due to a decline in estrogen levels.

Common menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings may coincide with getting less sleep or feeling more tired. Many of these symptoms are also associated with other health conditions. Consider reaching out to a healthcare provider if any of these symptoms get in the way of completing daily tasks.

Remedies to Relieve Perimenopause Itchiness

If you already have other skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, you may experience more intense itchiness during perimenopause as hormones fluctuate.

Health experts recommend keeping your skin consistently hydrated as much as possible to relieve itchiness. If you have sensitive skin, it’s important to avoid soaps and lotions with fragrances. Products containing certain chemicals may further irritate sensitive skin during perimenopause. Carrying a small amount of lotion with you throughout the day may also help relieve occasional dryness.

Consider adopting the following habits to manage skin itchiness during perimenopause:

• Switch to using a mild cleanser instead of a harsh soap

• Gently exfoliate your skin 

• Cleanse in lukewarm water

• Use colloidal oatmeal-based products

• Protect the skin from the sun by applying sunscreen

• Apply aloe vera to itchy patches of skin

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for maintaining skin and bone health in premenopausal women. Consider adding more vitamin D to your diet or taking vitamin D supplements. Check with a licensed healthcare provider before starting a new supplement. Some supplements may interact with certain medications or affect other preexisting health conditions.

Medications for Perimenopause Itchiness

Topical corticosteroids and antihistamines may help relieve skin itchiness caused by various factors. You can pick up a generic OTC anti-itch medication to relieve occasional itchiness. However, persistent itchiness may require a prescription medication from a licensed healthcare provider.

Products with hyaluronic acid as an ingredient may also help to protect dry skin and add firmness. However, hyaluronic acid may be too harsh for some skin types. Before using certain skin products, apply a small portion to some of your skin to check for any signs of skin irritation.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a viable treatment for those experiencing a wide array of severe menopausal symptoms. HRT can relieve most menopausal symptoms, but health experts do not recommend HRT as a treatment to target skin itchiness specifically. Still, HRT can replace lost estrogen, which may potentially improve skin elasticity. A licensed healthcare professional can best provide guidance on its effectiveness for you.

Chronic stress during perimenopause may worsen symptoms. Stress management techniques like meditating, deep breathing practices, and journaling may help to relieve itchiness and other menopausal symptoms intensified by stress and anxiety.

Other Potential Causes of Itchiness

Some premenopausal women may experience itchiness as a result of the following skin conditions:

• Seborrheic dermatitis

• Eczema

• Psoriasis

• Ringworm

• Shingles

• Folliculitis 

Medications to treat depression, anxiety, and diabetes may cause itchiness. Skin irritation is also a potential side effect of some prescription pain relievers, blood pressure medications, and cancer treatments as well.

Elderly people are also more prone to chronic pruritus (chronic skin itchiness) as the skin loses natural moisture. Chronic pruritus may increase the risk of skin injury when left untreated. In some cases, environmental factors like exposure to bedbugs and outdoor allergies may lead to itchiness.

Where Can I Learn More About Perimenopausal Care?

If you’re noticing a decline in your quality of life while approaching menopause, LifeMD can help. The LifeMD Women’s Health Program offers compassionate, personalized care for women. A LifeMD-affiliated healthcare provider can help you understand more about treatment for common premenopausal symptoms like itchiness, mood swings, trouble sleeping, and weight changes. LifeMD also offers hormonal replacement therapy for those who qualify.

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