menopause and your skin

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hi natural girls,

i started tamoxifen in february of this year. chemo put me in menopause in july of 2009. my skin is looking horrible. i look at it and say to myself what is happening! it is sagging more and has more wrinkles. i read that menopause because of lack of estrogen decreases elasticity in your skin and makes your skin thinner. so does my skin look like this from menopause or from taking tamoxifen?

and, can any of you tell me some good products to use.

thanks,

diane

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Comments

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2010

    Diane, tamoxifen suppresses estrogen that helps our skin, bones, organs and other body parts. This is one of the reasons I chose not to take tamoxifen.

  • 3jaysmom
    3jaysmom Member Posts: 4,266
    edited November 2010
    hi, on HSN, Sig. A with Adrianne Arpel has the latest in skin and makeup. esp. for aging skin, which you get from taking estrogen out. i use a chin tightener from her that i love; and i also moisturize, moisturize, moisturize... used to be a smoker (agahast) and i put some of the chin tightener there, and its responding well... good luck....3jays
  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited November 2010

    Hi Diane, from what i have been reading on the natural girls thread they talk about cocanut oil, so monday im heading to the health food store for some, im like you i started my menopause too early and now have dry skin was suppose to talke tamoxifin but decided against it so im sure its from chemo and menopause-

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited December 2010

    There simply is no way to regenerate skin and eliminate wrinkles and sagging if you have no estrogen!! if you don't want to do bio-identical hormone replacement, then another option is using a small amount of estriol in your facial cream, it works wonders!

    L

    ox

  • anondenet
    anondenet Member Posts: 715
    edited December 2010
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    I use 2 parts Dove body wash and 1 part suave hair conditioner to wash with. My 73 yo mom told me about this. It might take a few weeks but you skin will feel really nice, soft and not itchy.

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2010

    fairy, where can you purchase the estriol that you put in your face cream. Good to see you and anondent here :)

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited December 2010

    hey Barry!!

    Hi Anon!!!!

    I get my estriol compounded, however, another way go to this link

    http://www.helenpensanti.com/prodinfo.asp?number=EVS1

    take one of the pellets and melt in your hand and rub into face, its really good!!!!

    L

    ox 

  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited December 2010

    Hey Fairy, long time no see.  I want the estriol cream, but didn't think it was sold without a prescription.  Is this the real thing or a phytoestrogen?  It's hard to tell from the website description.

    Diane, don't know what your diet is like, but I feel that what you put on the inside is just as important as the outside.  Drink lots of water, good for plumping the skin up, eats lots of fruits and veggies, organic if you can afford it, and stay away from processed, sugary and bad-fat laden foods.  And exercise helps with that rosy glow.

    I've been on tamoxifen for 2 years now, skin has not changed all that much.  I am 50 now and am still told that I look 10 years younger, even though I notice the subtle changes in the mirror and some days feel that I look every bit my age.

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited December 2010

    hello!

    I actually called the company as they are here in Newport Beach, they assured me it was actual estriol, the lady is a naturopathic MD.  I do the bio's, not only to look better, thats just a nice beneficial side effect Surprised but I firmly believe with all of my heart that hormone balance is key to prevention, I don't see how you can fight all of the other crap that comes with age i.e. heart disease, alzheimer's and the list goes on, without keeping hormones straight.  Just my 2 cents! Wink

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2010

    Thanks Fairy for the website.

  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited December 2010

    Barry - tamox DOES NOT suppress estrogen. It (and I think, the other SERMs) connects to estrogen receptors in breast tissue, and actually supplies extra estrogen to other tissues. That's why tamox and Evista are good for post-menopausal bones.

    AIs, on the other hand, do suppress ALL estrogen in the post-menopausal body.

    But, to answer the original poster's question - menopause does lousy things to your skin. I'm using skin tighteners and plumpers, and things are looking better, but I am still looking like I'm not young.

    Sue

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2010
    Sue...from what I've heard and read tamoxifen is anti-estrogen. I've heard many a testimony where it puts women in early menapause. I'm post menapausal. Every year that I live, I have less estrogen. I don't need anything blocking what little estrogen I have. I actually believe that the hormones we do have keep our body younger, healthier and stronger. If estrogen is the culpret then why aren't more girls in their teen (who are loaded with estrogen) getting breast cancer? It's the middle age and post menapausal women with less estrogen, who are more apt to be dx with breast cancer. 

    Second reason is ...I'm more comfortable with the risk of getting breast cancer than the side effects of tamoxifen...which are deep vein thrombosis, endometrial cancer, and stroke...plus bone loss!  

    We must all decide what's right for us...or which risk we can live with.

  • anondenet
    anondenet Member Posts: 715
    edited December 2010

    Fairy, my old friend!

    What a great web site you've sent us!  http://www.helenpensanti.com/prodinfo.asp?number=EVS1

    I've been reading it and there's a lot of other good holistic information there by Dr. Presanti . You are our ace detective. I wish you could put up a quickie web page of your journey and all the links you've given us about bioidenticals over the years.

    Kiss

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010
    Barry The issue isn't just how much estrogen is in our bodies but for how long. Although teens may have more they haven't had it for a long time. Also the decision not to take this therapy for someone with DCIS stage O is less of a risk than for those who have a a higher stage of IDC, ILC or IBC. Also Tamoxifen doesn't seem to have the same issues with bone loss as do the Als… actually I have read just the opposite.
  • mollyann
    mollyann Member Posts: 472
    edited August 2013

    Iago,

    Where did the theory of having estrogen a long time being a problem come from?

    Edited to add: With that reasoning, then the oldest women would get more breast cancer. But they don't. Middle-aged women get breast cancer. 44 year-olds get the most breast cancer--when estrogen has been waning for eight or more years.

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2010

    largo...are you implying estrogen causes cancer? If so...where's the science behind that? It's not just bone loss...In regard to my decision to not take tamoxifen, it's the possibility of the other side effects that I'm uncomfortable with. It's my personal opinion that female hormones balance out your body....it's what goes, when we age. It seems to me that there are harmless estrogen that Fairy mention that will aid our quality of life, and I hope keep us from future cancers. For those who are in the middle of chemo and etc...I'm not sure if they should be using estrogen. For post cancer women, I don't see harm in using estrogen products.

    I looked up the website Fairy gave us. It seems that all the ingredents used in the products are natural and supplements that would help us overall. There are estrogens that are harmful...as horse urine.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    Hormone replacement therapy and birth control had been linked to breast cancer. There are several studies out there. So yes there is a link to having too much estrogen in your body for a long time may be a cause for concern. Check the middle of the page:
    http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-risk-factors

    It's not that estrogen causes breast cancer but there is a link. It may just provide "food" for it to grow. Personally I think we all have cancer cells in our body. Just some of us have the right conditions to allow it to grow.

    I know it's not only bone loss that you are concerned with but my point was that Tamoxifen doesn't usually cause bone loss and can actually protect it unline als.

  • mollyann
    mollyann Member Posts: 472
    edited December 2010

    Iago,

    Hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills are not estrogen. They are engineered drugs. The provera (synthetic progesterone) in conventional HRT has been the only hormone-like drug linked to breast cancer. Women taking the estrogen drug alone got LESS breast cancer.

    The trouble with using the words, "linked to" and "may" is that it passes along assumptions that have not been proved. When you repeat the rumor that estrogen "just may provide food" it is probably a good idea to back this up with some specific human studies.

    I know you mean well. We have all been alarmed by the media misrepresenting hormone studies. Even Dr. Oz.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2013

    So your saying there is no link and all the onc that are recommending hormone supression therapy for us ER+/PR+ patients are crazy?

    "estrogen does stimulate cell proliferation""In other words, estrogen-induced cell production leads to an increase in the total number of mutant cells that exist. These cells are at increased risk of becoming cancerous, so the chances that cancer may actually develop are increased."

    That sounds like "food" to me

    sources:
    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/estrogenreceptors/Slide10
    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/estrogenreceptors/Slide11
    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/estrogenreceptors/Slide13
    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/estrogenreceptors/Slide17

    and here's one for HRT:
    "To counteract these potential problems, some postmenopausal women take hormone pills containing estrogen to strengthen bones and help control other menopausal symptoms. But, as a consequence, such women are subjecting themselves to the harmful effects of estrogen--namely, an increased risk for invasive breast cancer and uterine cancer."
    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/estrogenreceptors/Slide22

    Yes it is "linked to" and "may".  There are very few "definitely" in cancer diagnosis. I
    didn't feel the need to  back this up with a link because this information is pretty standard. If you chose not to believe it that's fine. But there are many studies out there. If you don't like the links I posted then do a google search. The NCI is a very reliable source.

  • mollyann
    mollyann Member Posts: 472
    edited December 2010

    Iago,

    I asked if you could give human studies demonstrating estrogen caused breast cancer. All your links are interpretive essays not based on humans but on cells in a test tube which can be manipulated either way.

    Please let us know when you can find a primary source (study).

    Best of luck in your treatment strategy. I'm sure you will do well. I don't want to argue with you. Arguing stresses out people and I'm all for peace and respect.

  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited December 2010

    Mollyann,

    I don't give a crap about your own personal decision regarding anti-hormonal therapy.  I do have serious issues when you advocate that no patients should take them.  That is what you are implying if you don't say this directly.

    All decisions are not equal.  That is what "evidence based" medicine is about.

    You need to be aware that a lot of women on these boards could DIE if they were foolish enough to follow what you advocate.

    I do mean DIE.

    So please be mindful of this in what you say. 

    Lago has roughly the same diagnosis as I did, and I am also taking anti-hormonals with minimal side effects.  I intend to do this for as long as it is recommended to me by my oncologist.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    Mollyann

    Other than smoking we really don't know what causes cancer… especially breast cancer. I did not say nor did the links state that estrogen causes breast cancer. If you read the links I posted you would understand there is a connection. There are several factors needed for cancer to grow. Estrogen is one of them. If you chose to not like what Nation Cancer Institute studies that's fine with me. I'm going with Claire on this one and taking the meds my onc recomends.

    I can't find the human studies you ask for because of this and because doing human studies would be cruel. Are you suggesting we expose women to extra estrogen and see if they get breast cancer? 

    None of us have MDs or specialize in cancer research. This is why we bring questions like these to our doctors.  

  • mathteacher
    mathteacher Member Posts: 243
    edited December 2010

    Hi Fairy,

    Welcome back! Great site. Do you put the progesterone on your face along with the estriol?

    Why are all the good doctors in your area? Seriously.

  • mollynminnie
    mollynminnie Member Posts: 86
    edited December 2010

    Wow....

    Even the most innocent of topics on here results in an argument.  Am I the only one who is getting sick of everyone not getting along?

    Molly 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    I'm very interested and supportive of alternative and holistic medicine and in my case… in conjunction with traditional medicine. I just told my onc that 3 weeks ago.

    The problem seems that when I get into the Alternative, Complementary & Holistic Treatment threads I see people attacking traditional medicine and the science that supports their use. I though this was about the alternatives not a place to attack traditional.

    I don't think I was arguing just clarifying some misinformation, discussing and answering some queries.

  • rgiuff
    rgiuff Member Posts: 1,094
    edited December 2010

    Lago, this is a place to discuss, even though the discussions do seem to get heated at times, especially when it comes to alternative vs. traditional views.  

    I myself prefer the alternative mindset, but I do take tamoxifen anyway, so I guess that puts me somewhere in between.  I haven't had too many bad effects on it and I look at it as extra insurance because I know that I can't completely eliminate all the toxins and make my whole life organic, it can get very expensive that way.  I keep planning to quit it, but then find myself saying "just another month or two, then I'll quit."  So far, I've lasted 2 years. My Onc has brought up the subject of switching to the AIs once I'm fully menopausal, but those I absolutely will refuse as I don't think it's good to stop all our estrogen production.  If I could afford a naturopathic doctor, I would probably go completely alternative.

    I don't think estrogen causes breast cancer either, but yes, once it's there, do believe that it feeds the cells.  However, estriol does sound safer than the other 2 estrogens and I am eager to try it for the face and the vaginal dryness.

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited December 2010

    Anon! Less of the "old" thank you very much LOL!!! I would love to have some time to put all of my research into one flippin place, great idea!!

    Claire ~ no offense, but this is the alternative/complimentary thread, soooooo, I am guessing the people hear are going to have vastly different ideas than yourself.  NOONE here advocates NOT taking the standard therapies, all they are saying is, that they can be very dangerous and they are on this thread because they have chosen a different route or a complimentary route.  We are all in the same boat, and we will all choose a different way of navigating that boat, and we won't always agree, but let's please have respect for each other choices.

    I don't believe estrogen causes BC, I believe (and again just my theory!) that estrogen run amok, both internal and external causes havoc, if not balanced with progesterone.

    Mathteacher! No, no progesterone on the face, that goes on the upper stomach, above the belly.

    I hope everyone has a great night!

    Hugs!
    L

    ox

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited December 2010

    oh another note!! about all the good doctors being here, I don't think they are honestly, I just have been to sooooo many now, trying to find someone willing to work with me, and luckily, finally I have!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2010

    For years I used a product that just worked excellent for my skin.  It has collagen in it.  I've tried other products, but none ever worked the way this does.  I used to purchase it at the dept store, but then they discontinued it and I could only buy it online.  I've tried others but nothing works lik e this.  It gives my skin a healthy glow, and supple look.  I stopped using it after BC because I was afraid to use anything that may have paraban in it.  But I broke down and ordered some last week,....It is a little pricy but it's worth it and a little goes a long way and lasts a long time!

    image

    Barb

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