Dry Skin - What's going on?

[Megazoid]

Right guy's, ever since the start of this whole "ordeal" of the low testosterone symptoms i was getting really bad dry skin all over my body. While it wasn't 'shedding' as such, it was like snowflakes every morning. It's noticeable on my face,hands, elbows, penis/scrotum and knees/feet. A few people have noticed my upper body look's allot more red/discolored than before, i have noticed this myself.

I used to have very young, pale, thick skin before all of this and never had acne or much body hair (had normal beard growth, hair on legs, scrotum/penis, etc) but never much on my body or arms. I guess i wasn't genetically prone to it because no matter how high my DHT goes or T i am not sprouting more hair.

Now i know that E2 when low can cause dry skin and on my last blood test my E2 was 71 (normal range 75 - 170 for males) so i am guessing this might be a factor. However ever since being on the injections i swear my symptoms have gotten worse. My joints are clicking more than ever, my skin is worse and libido/erections are about the same (maybe worse on the few days before the injection). I have noticed a bit of a reduction in penile sensativity and not sure if this is linked with low e2 and the dry 'snowflaking' skin. I know that if DHT is low this can cause these symptoms too.

I am taking no supplements except fish oils.

I read over at another forum that low E2 will cause dry skin and ALSO joint problems (like the clicking). Here is my problem guy's, i must be a low e2 guy because even when my T was looking good on 5g's of androgel daily my results were as follows:

Total T: 25.2nmol (normal range - 10.1 - 38)
Estridol: 73 (normal range 75 - 178)

It seem's no matter what i do E2 dosen't want to go up, i think this is the root of my problems. I know that low E2 can cause TSH to raise (which it did in the last blood test : TSH : 2.3) but not enough to cause alarm.

The problem is if i use HCG it will only really help for the 2/3 day's i use it and i really need to bring it up more.

Does this sound like low E2 symptoms? What advice could you guy's offer?

[pmgamer18]

Your doing shots now so do them for 4 weeks check your levels then if your up into the upper 1/3 of your labs range add in HCG. Give it time your E2 will come up some times when you low for a long time it takes longer for it to come back up even on TRT.

[keninottawa]

I, too, have very low E2 and have experienced skin problems. Any insight that people have would be appreciated. As for me, I just moisturize -- a lot.

[Megazoid]

Thanks for the reply Kenninottawa. It look's like it might just be the both of us that are low on estridol. I am hoping the injections increased estridol for me as i started 125mg daily in the hope of doing so. I plan on adding in HCG very soon which stimulates both the testicles and liver to armonitize testosterone to estridol. Might be worth trying in your situation too.

Do you mind if i ask what symptoms you have? For me the following:

Joint Clicking noises/sometimes pain, Dry 'snowflaking skin', Skin Thining (progressive), Reduced body fat, low libido, ED (sometimes really bad), slight reduction in penile sensativity.

[Bridger]

I would like to chime in here as well. My e2 is a 0 on a scale of 0-30 or so. I don't know how sensitive that test was, probably not very. But i have some of those same symptoms as well.

drier than normal skin. I can pop nearly every joint in my body, it seems to have become more noticeable. The knees are pretty loud when squatting. They do ache sometimes, again especially the knees. Now, i actually have fat around the middle that is totally new. Thats about it.

I guess i got lucky in the fact that since my T/E have been low, libido and sexual functions were not affected negatively. Just a lack of random/morning wood which i can live with, but seems to be coming back with the test shots.

**

And i'd also like to add something kinda funny, in a ridiculous sort of way. I got my bill from the hospital/lab where i got my latest bloodwork and semen analysis done. The semen analysis was about $55. And the bloodwork came to around $850!!!!! Thats freakin retarded. Thank God for insurance. I had about 13 things tested for the blood work.

[Andrew Androgen]

Bridger, did you ever take accutane?

[Megazoid]

Bridger, Special thanks for your input. It seem's like all other symptoms are identical except the sexual dysfunction and low libido. I also have that kind of "fat pad" around my stomach too now, not really noticable on me due to my size/weight though but it's a new development in the past few months. I am positive this is low e2 related because i never had as many problems on androgel. I will give the injections more time (4/8 weeks to see what happens). Is acne/greasy skin caused by excessive estridol/estrogen?

[Bridger]

Originally Posted by Andrew Androgen

Bridger, did you ever take accutane?

Nope never taken accutane. Why? I never had a need to. Except lately(in the last 6-8weeks) i have broken out a little bit on my nose. Nothing drastic, but definitely not normal. Don't know what it could be from.

[Bridger]

Originally Posted by Megazoid

Bridger, Special thanks for your input. It seem's like all other symptoms are identical except the sexual dysfunction and low libido. I also have that kind of "fat pad" around my stomach too now, not really noticable on me due to my size/weight though but it's a new development in the past few months. I am positive this is low e2 related because i never had as many problems on androgel. I will give the injections more time (4/8 weeks to see what happens). Is acne/greasy skin caused by excessive estridol/estrogen?

You are most welcome. Glad i could be of help.

I can't answer with certainty about greasy skin caused by estro. I always thought it was more related to the androgenic nature of testosterone. But i don't know for sure, just what i have heard, kinda makes sense to me though. Maybe a doc or someone who has done some fact-checking can add something.

[Megazoid]

Guy's, if you have low E2 can you list the symptoms you have. I am trying to figure this out for my own case. Has anyone had a reduction in penile sensativity for example (or dry skin on penis)?

[MacDonnell]

I have low E2 and none of the symptoms you mentioned. Maybe your skin is dry because you're not getting enough water. Also, like Keninottawa suggested, moisturize. Maybe your joints ache because you're not getting enough exercise? Have you tried stretching and strength training?

[Megazoid]

How low is your E2 Mac? Mine was below the range on last check. You did however mention you aren't fully happy with getting/maintaining wood in a previous post. This could be linked with low e2.

How much water should be drank a day?

[MacDonnell]

Originally Posted by Megazoid

How low is your E2 Mac? Mine was below the range on last check. You did however mention you aren't fully happy with getting/maintaining wood in a previous post. This could be linked with low e2.

How much water should be drank a day?

At last check, I believe it was 18 (ultra-sensitve assay) - I can't remember the exact range, but it was essentially, 1-50 (or thereabouts). The "wood" issue could be several things - Dr. John is trying to normalize all of these bizarre hormonal things going on inside me (low total T, high total estrogens, high DHT, low DHEA, etc.). So far, so good. Wood, libido, and erection quality appear to all be improving (fingers crossed). You just need to be patient and give any new "regimen" a chance. I think you need to stick with your shots for a month or two, get new bloodwork done (and get EVERYTHING done, including DHT - Also, tell your doc. you want a 24-hour urinalysis). Based on the new labs and how you feel, you can continue on same course or try something different.

[hardasnails1973]

Originally Posted by MacDonnell

At last check, I believe it was 18 (ultra-sensitve assay) - I can't remember the exact range, but it was essentially, 1-50 (or thereabouts). The "wood" issue could be several things - Dr. John is trying to normalize all of these bizarre hormonal things going on inside me (low total T, high total estrogens, high DHT, low DHEA, etc.). So far, so good. Wood, libido, and erection quality appear to all be improving (fingers crossed). You just need to be patient and give any new "regimen" a chance. I think you need to stick with your shots for a month or two, get new bloodwork done (and get EVERYTHING done, including DHT - Also, tell your doc. you want a 24-hour urinalysis). Based on the new labs and how you feel, you can continue on same course or try something different.

Check thyroid dry skin is biggest symptoms and not allowing you to absorb the cream if you are TRT possible..

Heres a question for you "will lowering total estrogen make the tcreame more effective since the receptors are not as full blocking the testosterone from binding and actually raise serum levels " If Dht is being converted is that Tcreame being wasted ?