Hi everyone.

I'm new to this forum and have just posted a brief introduction HERE (http://www.eunuch.org/forums/showthread ... i-everyone).

I've been physically without testicles and penis (by choice) for almost a decade now and during that time I've gone through various different hormone replacement routines covering the entire spectrum from estrogen to testosterone. I felt the calmest on estrogen but I honestly don't like the effects of ANY hormones and am currently not taking any HRT (I have done this in the past too).

The problem I have when I am not on any HRT is that I experience quite severe hot flashes. These are not nearly as much a problem during the day as they are at night when they cause me to awaken in a pool of sweat.

The other considerable issue when I'm not on HRT is that my skin becomes very dry and I experience painful cracking around my hands, fingers and lips. No amount of creams, ointments or other such things seem to alleviate this to any considerable degree. Tea tree oil and Aloe Vera (I have an Aloe Vera plant) make a small difference but are a long way from what I'd call a solution.

I am hoping somebody else here has also experienced these things and has found a practical solution that does not involve HRT (natural or chemical). Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome aboard! It's nice to see another voluntary and happy eunuch/nullo here. I hope you share your experience so we can have yet another voice of reality for what it means to be a eunuch on this forum.

As to your dry/cracked skin concerns... On what part of your body are you experiencing this? I've noticed recently that I've developed sebhorraic dermatitis on the sides of my scalp... or in plain English severe dandruff. It's itchy and at times annoying. I've managed to control it somewhat with nutrogena t-gel shampoo, but it doesn't quite get rid of it.

I kept thinking I was the only castrated guy having dry skin and flaking issues. Perhaps it's a symptom of being castrated and therefore messing with our endocrine systems? Many more hormones/chemicals are produced by the testicles than just sperm and testosterone and it can mess with your endocrine system and thyroid issues. I'll have to study more, but perhaps it's a good jumping off point for you to do you own study?

Again, welcome aboard.

--LT

Thank you for the warm welcome LT. What you've mentioned about our endocrine systems pretty much reflects my thoughts on this matter too. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to dig up much online about this without finding references and recommendations to use HRT in one form or another. When I am on HRT, the hot flashes and cracked/bleeding skin stops but, as I mentioned, I'd much rather continue without HRT.

My particular dry skin issues are predominantly confined to my hands/fingers and my lips. Perhaps it might be worth washing my hands with t-gel shampoo!!!

My scalp hasn't been an issue at this point but no doubt we share a common cause. It will be good to share any information we may uncover here on the forum and compare results.

As far as my experiences go, I do indeed plan to share more as I get to know people here. In fact, I am planning on possibly making a mini documentary about this and using my own testimony as the core subject. I'm a professional video producer and sound engineer/electronics tech/musician so this is something that would not be beyond reason given enough time.

Anyway, thanks again for the warm welcome.

I am a voluntary eunuch for 14 years now and have never used HRT. The hot flashes are long over unless I consume too much coffee. As far as dry skin of course it is worse during winter with the furnace running. I also take diuretics which cause my skin to be dry. Also as a eunuch I produce less oils so more skin dryness. Drinking water to hydrate from within is a good start. I now wear gloves in cold weather when before I would not. This helps keep my skin from chapping.

Working in patient care I wash my hands a lot. I do not use all hot water but more of a warm mix. Hot water will remove oils. I also make sure I rinse all the soap off since soap residue can dry the skin. Then plenty of Corn Huskers lotion for the hands. Good luck since dry cracking skin hurts.

That is encouraging news Tugon (cool nickname BTW). Perhaps I just need to bear with and ride out the hot flashes. No doubt I've been a little too impatient with them and gone back onto HRT a little too quickly.

Indeed the cracked skin is much more of a problem during winter. I tend to drink a fair amount of water but more is certainly not a problem for me. I always carry a water bottle with me and I live on a farm with very good quality bore water so there's no town water additives (fluoride, chlorine, etc) to be worried about. A bonus with the bore water is that it is high in calcium which helps offset any osteoporosis issues that may or may not arise as a result of my non HRT decision.

A pair of warm, winter gloves certainly wouldn't go astray here either and I'll Google Corn Huskers lotion (haven't heard of that personally).

Thank you for your insights.

You can cure the hot flashes I think by going on HRT. When my testicles ceased to function after much self abuse my Dr put me on Reandol 1000 which is one inhection every 3 months. Physical condition improved markedly and body hair darkened and thickened but grew longer and finer at the same time. I monitired the T levels over time for the first shots and found that initially it briefly went over normal (about 2X) and then fell back and gradually declined over the three months to about 80% normal when the next shot was due. I dont see much effect from the varying levels but my sense of wellbeing improved markedly with this treatment. Not much change in the libido department

I was castrated almost five years ago. The hot flashes are long gone. I thought I had dandruff but it is an extension of my plaque psoriasis, which I have had for years. I too think it is related to being castrated. An endocrinologist I saw explained that, other than Testosterone, no research has been done on other secretions of the testis (he also said he would not be surprised if there were dozens of others). I usually take small doses of testosterone but recently went for over a year with no HRT at all, my fingernails got brittle and I dried out everywhere. --FLO--

I found the hot flashes steadily became less frequent and ceased after four months. I get dry facial skin and cracks between my fingers. Oil-free moisturising cream helps with the facial dryness and because it's oil-free it doesn't leave me with a glossy face (I don't want to look like I've been varnished). I use an intensive hand cream to deal with the cracks between my fingers and wear gloves when doing household chores or gardening.

There seems to be a common thread here that if I endure the hot flashes, in time they will fade but the cracking skin may be ongoing and need continual treatment. This discussion has been very encouraging for me so far. Thank you all for sharing.

Since becoming a eunuch in August 2011 I started having hotflushs, but after going to my endocrinoligist who prescribe HRT (Eastrodot patches) the hotflushs have almost gone.

I haven't had dry skin , but I have noticed that I bruise very easily and some times my skin gets very ichy

Patricia