The Drawer of Broken Promises
I was decluttering the other day and figured I’d tackle my “beauty” drawers. Not the glamorous kind with makeup and shiny hair products—no, these had become a graveyard of lotions. All colors, all sizes: organic, chemical-free, boutique, and drugstore deals. One bottle looked so ancient I half-wondered if my grandmother left it behind—except, well, she’s been gone a while.
There were lavender-scented promises, miracle creams for “mature skin,” and gentle-enough-for-babies balms. All once full of hope, now crumpled, expired, and barely used. I looked at them and realized I wasn’t moisturizing—I was hoarding. Into the trash, they went.
Enter the Itch (and Its Sidekicks)
And then came the itch.
Not just dry skin—it was like a thousand invisible ants crawling on me.
Then came the burning.
Pins and needles in my back, arms, legs… and the worst? Itch turned into soreness.
For a terrifying second, I thought I had a skin disease. So, I did what any modern woman would do—I Googled.
Oh. Menopause Again
According to WebMD, between ages 40 and 58, most women enter menopause. That’s when estrogen declines—periods stop, ovaries go quiet, and your skin declares war.
Estrogen, it turns out, isn’t just for reproductive drama. It strengthens bones, boosts collagen, and keeps skin hydrated. So when it drops, you get the joy of itchy, burning, flaky skin. Thanks, body.
The Existential Crisis (Because, Of Course)
And I had a moment—one of those hormonal, soul-sighing moments:
Why now?
Why, after building a beautiful family, raising kids, surviving chaos, and finally reaching a moment where I could focus on myself—why does my body decide this is the time to unravel?
No answers. Just dry skin and sarcasm.
The “Solutions” I Was Already Doing
WebMD tried to help. It gave five solid skincare tips… which I had already been doing:
• Eat omega-3s (salmon, walnuts, flax) to support your skin’s oil barrier.
• Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days.
• Avoid hot showers—use warm water only, and apply soap sparingly.
• Use gentle, unscented soaps.
• Moisturize immediately after bathing with gentle yet effective products, such as petroleum jelly.
They’re good tips. They help. But I was still scratching.
The Natural Glycerin
You know what helped me? Plain, old-school natural glycerin. It soothed the itch as no luxury serum had ever been able to.
But here’s the weird part: sometimes, I feel like my skin is on fire. Not metaphorically—literally. Like I’m standing too close to a flame, even though I live in a house my family says feels like the Arctic.
Wrap It in Humor (and a Bathrobe)
So yes, I’m still moisturizing like it’s a full-time job. I still wake up in the middle of the night scratching like a cartoon character. But you know what?
Let’s enjoy our lives anyway.
Even if we do, it is greased up in glycerin and wrapped in fluffy robes.
Dana Obeid
