One in four women say menopause triggered eczema symptoms

By MEIKE LEONARD

Published: 22:00 BST, 3 May 2025 | Updated: 22:15 BST, 3 May 2025

One in four women suffering from eczema say that their symptoms were triggered by the menopause, a survey shows.

The condition, which causes dry, itchy and irritated skin, affects 1.5 million people in the UK.

Most are born with it or first have symptoms as children, which tend to improve as they get older. One in ten have flare-ups in adulthood, set off by changes in temperature, skin infections, stress or contact with allergens.

A survey of more than 700 British women now suggests there could be another major trigger: menopause. A quarter of women who took part developed eczema for the first time during menopause, which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.

A further 32 per cent said they suffer from dry skin or eczema on their face, triggered by the menopause – when decreasing oestrogen levels can cause skin to become drier and less resilient.

Declining collagen, which helps skin resilience and elasticity, adds to dryness and sensitivity during and after menopause.

The condition, which causes dry, itchy and irritated skin, affects 1.5 million people in the UK. Pictured: File photo

A quarter of women who took part developed eczema for the first time during menopause, which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Pictured: File photo

Hormonal changes can lead to eczema outbreaks for menopausal and post-menopausal women.

They can counter this by moisturising regularly, drinking plenty of water and swapping to gentle cleansers, says Paula Oliver, dermatological nurse and consultant for the survey sponsor, skincare brand Epimax. 

She says: ‘Dry skin and eczema during menopause can have real impacts on daily life and emotional well-being, yet so many women remain in the dark about what’s happening to their skin until they experience it first-hand.’

Topical steroids or low-dose hormone treatments can be prescribed as treatment by GPs.

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One in four women say menopause triggered eczema symptoms

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