Hell. This is simply hell. There is nothing about menopause to appreciate except no periods.

You would think that when you have dry skin, adding a bit of lotion would not be an issue. I disagree.

Everything during menopause seems to have an issue.

We go to the beach a ton. My favorite exercise is swimming, and I can be in the ocean for more than an hour at a time. Then I lie out in the sun for a bit. My skin gets super dry.

I applied lotion one day and then a hot flash hit.

Did you ever watch Friends? The episode where Ross is wearing leather pants, gets super-hot in them, goes to the bathroom to take them off and can’t get them back on? He tries lotion, baby powder…all sorts of stuff and the end result is a disgusting paste. Season 5, Episode 11, if you are inclined to watch.

That’s what it is like for me to put on lotion. I don’t even need the leather pants.

And then I forget. I simply forget my past experiences and do it again. And again. Like a bloody idiot.

So I apply it right before bed one night, because, well, I forgot. It felt like a bigger mess than it was, but indeed, it was a mess. I was sticky, pasty and needed a shower.

As usual, I just stopped trying. I gave regular lotion a try, emu oil, special soaps, nothing cares for my skin AND leaves me still feeling good after a hot flash.

Does this happen to you?