Pattern of Dermatological Involvement in Early Postmenopausal Period: A Cross-Sectional Study

In the past, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 postmenopausal women below 65 years old to assess the clinical patterns of dermatosis in menopausal women. The study found that 165 of these women had genital involvement, with atrophic vaginitis (41.21%) being the most common symptom, typically manifesting as vaginal dryness. Oral complaints were reported by 82 women, with 42.7% experiencing pain or difficulty swallowing despite the absence of mucosal lesions. Female pattern hair loss was observed in 34% of the total sample size, with the majority having grade I-2 (45.4%) and I-3 (36.13%). The study also found incidences of keratoderma climactericum (2.29%) and hirsutism in early menopause (8%), which had not been previously recorded. However, only 28% of the women were aware that their complaints were related to menopause or sought active treatment for their symptoms. The study concluded that there is a need for increased awareness among dermatologists and gynecologists for prompt diagnosis, treatment, and patient education regarding postmenopausal dermatoses.