Climara Patch side effect???

i am using the Climara Patch...0.05 mg/daily.
i hav been using it for about 9 weeks.
in the last week or so i have developed bad patches of dry, cracking skin under my eyes. some of it has changed to a darker color than the rest of my face. both of my eyes look swollen.
it looks like i have been hit it both eyes.....it almost looks like i have two black-eyes. the condition is not very noticable when i am wearing my glasses but once i take them off, you can't help but to notice it. could this be a side-effect from the Patch showing up after all this time. it really looks awful.

i have an appt. with my gyne. of friday and will ask his opinion.
i also have an appt. with a dermatologist on monday. i thought i may be having an allergic reaction to something.
maybe between the two of them, they can figure out what has caused my condition.

thanks....jene

Hi Jene, that sounds like an odd side effect, but I guess anything is possible. Here is a link to their website, you can see if it is listed there. http://www.clearlyclimara.com/ Is there anything else that could be causing it? Hope your Dr. can help you figure this out.

Hi Jene,
I am sorry you are having this weird thing with your skin. I know it is tough figuring out what is what. I am sure your two doctors can help you. If your skin is dry in general, that could be a sign of too little estradiol or lack of progesterone. Sometimes adding progesterone will help with dry skin.
I sure hope you get this all figured out soon
Best wishes

Becky in OHIO

If you read the fine print on the folded patient information that comes inside your box of Climara, it states that it IS possible to have skin darkening, usually on the face. I think that the dry, cracked skin that you mentioned is NOT a part of the symtoms that Climara can cause, just a lack of moisture.

I believe the term is called Melanosis., which means that your skin is depositing dark pigment in places (of course that you'd rather NOT have it).

It is not harmful, just an undesirable contrast in skin color. Sometimes it does not go away even if you stop using estrogen.

I'm not saying that this is what is causing your pigment change issue. Just that it MIGHT be the Climara patch.

It can be a side effect.

NoNoLoLola

thanks for the replys ladies.
and yes NoNoLoLoa, i did read insert from the Climara box.
but, i wanted a little more input on the subject.

my condition has changed since my original post.
i decided to put a perm on my hair today. boy was that a mistake.
almost immediately my face started to burn. the perm never touched my face. i made sure of this. so my guess is that maybe there were fumes from the perm that caused my face to burn. anyway, i got the perm on and off as quick as possible. but, before i could wash the perm out i had to splash cold water on my face because it was burning so bad. by the time i finished my hair my cheeks were red and irritated. the burning feeling has almost completely stopped......lessen a lot. my cheeks are still red and a bit irritated. and there are spots that look like i was burned on my right cheek. i look awful. so bad that i am not sure i will go to work tomorrow. i know i will be bombared with questions as tho what is wrong. and i am not so sure that i want to go through that.

so maybe it's not the Patch that is causing my problems.
i know that i am allergic to something, i am just not sure what.
i have an appt. with my gyne. on friday. i want to see what he thinks. and an appt. with a dermatologist on monday. maybe we will get the whole thing figured out.

hugs....jene

Jene,
Maybe you should see if you can get into your dermatologist sooner. Just in case this is some type of infection on your skin. I once had a fungal rash on my face that looked as though I had burned myself. I think if you tell them that it is keeping you from going to work, maybe they can fit you in somewhere today. It sounds positively awful and I wanted to send a hug

Love,
Becky in OHIO

Becky, thanks for the , i needed it.
i like the idea of calling the dermatologist. i will call as soon as his office opens and see if they can get me in sooner.
my face looks so awful that i really don't want to go out in public.
i don't want to have to deal with the stares and the "what happened" questions.

and here's a for you

..jene

Jene,
....got it! and thanks I needed one today too. Please let me know what the doctor says when you see her/him
More hugs,



Love,
Becky

Jene,
Good luck with the dermatologist. Keep in mind that the dermatologist treats the symptoms of what he/she has made a diagnosis of.

He/she may suggest that you see an allergist, if need be, to find out what is CAUSING it, provided he rules out other skin diseases.

I hope you feel better soon.

NoNoLoLola

Jene, as I got older my skin became very sensitive. I too have problem with hair treatments esp. dye and I also have problems with heat (had to give up my hot tub). I cannot use any products with alcohol (shampoos, make up, etc) . I hope you can find some solutions soon.