Can a Rash develop due to Menopause?

Menopause can dry out and wrinkle your skin. But it doesn't directly cause skin rashes. However, variations in estrogen levels before and during menopause may cause redness, bumps, and other signs of skin irritation.

Updated: November 4, 2019

When the ovaries produce no estrogen or so little estrogen that eggs are no longer released, Menopause occurs. This also causes your period to stop.
Menopause can bring some pretty dramatic physical changes due to drop in estrogen levels that include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness.
Estrogen not only affect your body's menstrual cycles but also helps your skin stay healthy and youthful looking by stimulating the production of substances like collagen and oil. Menopause can dry out and wrinkle your skin. But it doesn't directly cause skin rashes. However, variations in estrogen levels before and during menopause may cause redness, bumps, and other signs of skin irritation.
The hormone estrogen helps in keeping your skin healthy and supple during your reproductive years. Your skin thins and dries out, especially in sensitive areas like your face once the production of estrogen slows down.
Perimenopause is the transitional phase of menopause when hormone levels start to decline. This is defined as around menopause. During this time, your body becomes more sensitive to temperature. You may suddenly feel hot and sweaty, and your face gets red and flushed during an episode. This common menopause symptom is called a hot flash. You may also experience other symptoms such as change in period cycle, sleep disturbances, or mood swings during this period.
Your skin may itch or becomes more sensitive than usual due to lack of estrogen. When you are exposed to irritating substances like itchy fabrics, perfumes, and dyes, you are more likely to get a rash or hives because of skin sensitivity. A lack of estrogen also prevents your skin from healing as quickly as it used to when it does get irritated.
A rash is a sort of inflammation which will have noticeable change in the texture or color of your skin. Your skin may become scaly, bumpy, itchy, or otherwise irritated. Rashes lasting more than a few days that are unexplained should be evaluated by a doctor.

Symptoms of skin affected by Menopause:

Symptoms will depend on how menopause affects your skin. You may notice a red flush spreading across your skin during hot flashes. This flush will be most noticeable on your face, neck, and at the top of your chest. Skin sensitivity may cause red bumps or hives to form when you come into contact with irritating substances like itchy fabrics, perfumes, and dyes.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is based on physical examination and medical history. Your doctor usually can diagnose the type of rash by taking your medical history and examining your skin.
Rarely, skin biopsy is done in which your doctor may take a small sample of skin after applying a local anesthetic. The sample is then examined under a microscope to determine the exact type of rash and to rule out other disorders.You might also need blood tests to check for skin allergies.
Visit your doctor immediately if:

you have a fever with the rash
the rash spreads quickly, or it is all over your body
the rash is leaking yellow or green fluid, or it feels hot to the touch, which are symptoms of infection

Treatment:

If the rash is caused by contact with an irritating substance, like laundry detergent or metal jewelry, stop using that product right away. Over the counter medication such as antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream can be used to relieve itching and pain until the rash fades. Hydrocortisone or antifungal medicine will be prescribed by your doctor depending on the cause of the rash.
To help ease discomfort and speed up the healing process, you can try the following things:

Use warm water instead of hot water and colloidal oatmeal for washing your skin.
Use mild, gentle cleansers instead of scented bar soaps.
Avoid scratching the rash because doing so can make it worse and could lead to infection.
Pat the rash dry instead of rubbing it.
Avoid covering it with clothing if possible. Allow it to breathe.
Stop using new cosmetics or lotions because they may have triggered the rash.
Apply unscented moisturizing lotion to the affected areas to prevent it from drying out.
Wear clothes made from soft, natural fibers like cotton.

Although hormonal changes related to menopause can make a noticeable change on your skin, they do not cause a rash. Flushed skin should clear up quickly. However it might return with the next hot flash.
If you have splotches, bumps, or scaly spots on your skin that does not show any improvement in few days after treating at home, you are likely to have a skin condition that might need treatment. In such cases visit a dermatologist for a skin check up.