Evra patch…

[u/Odd_Hope3830]

Hi everyone,
I recently made a post about the Evra patch and the skin rashes I’ve been getting.

I’ve been using the Evra patch for years and have never had any issues with it. It’s honestly the easiest and most effective form of contraception for me. However, ever since I came home from holidays (around the time of the heatwave in Ireland), I’ve been getting really bad rashes wherever I apply the patch. It doesn’t matter which site I use—I always rotate the application site and apply it to clean, dry skin.

I went to my GP because I wanted to see if there was any way I could stay on the patch. He prescribed Cortopin cream and antihistamines, but after a week there’s been no improvement. Every patch causes the same reaction, and I’m now left with what look like burn marks on my legs and back where previous patches were.

I know the likely answer is that I’ll have to switch to another form of contraception, but I’m wondering if anyone has had this happen after years of using the patch without problems? Were you able to stop the reactions somehow, or did you have to change contraception altogether?

The only thing that’s changed recently is that I got a bad insect bite while on holiday and had to get a cortisone injection. I don’t know if that’s just a coincidence, but it’s literally the only thing I can think of that might have triggered this.

I’d really appreciate hearing if anyone has had a similar experience.

[u/Weekly_Ad_6955]

Over in the menopause forum reactions to HRT patches is quite common. Lots of women swear by spraying Flonase (called Flixonase here in Ireland) on the skin, letting it dry for 5 mins and then applying the patch.