Oestrogen gel - so MUCH to rub in

[VanCleefArpels]

So I’ve just started using the oestrogen gel (backed up by my Mirena coil). I’m starting on one pump and see how I go. But it’s SO much stuff. I rub one pump briefly in my palms and apply half each to each thigh and need to basically cover my whole outer thigh to distribute it sufficiently so it sinks in. I’m thinking that if I went up to the full 4 pumps dosage I’d be rubbing it in over my entire body!! Is this a thing? Am I doing it right??

Don’t rub your hands together- just squirt into your palm and smooth it straight into your upper arm / thigh. You can leave it to sink in rather than keep rubbing so can leave a thicker layer on. I do one pump on each limb.

I do just two pumps, on my finger tips then rub gently onto inner thigh and wait for it to dry.

Ah so shouldn’t rub it in till it disappears then? Doesn’t it just sit on the skin in a gross way? I’m worried about interaction with my fake tan (#priorities 🤣)

I use the same amount as you @VanCleefArpels - well, one pump am and another pm.

I don't find it a lot to rub in and I'm pretty small.
I pump into one hand and spread between palms, then apply it to inner thighs (it's supposed to be inner, not outer- says on the leaflet.)

You DO have to rub it in - there is a video on the website of Dr Louise Newson where a dr shows how to do it.

Obviously you don't rub so hard that it ends up being absorbed by your hands rather than your body.

@VanCleefArpels

Ah so shouldn’t rub it in till it disappears then? Doesn’t it just sit on the skin in a gross way? I’m worried about interaction with my fake tan (#priorities 🤣)

It will sink in after a while. You should be putting any other creams etc on the skin for at least an hour or so afterwards anyway. I used to do my gel in the morning and other creams etc in the evening.

I mean, I do rub it but I don’t rub incessantly. If there’s some left on the skin I just let it sink in.

@VanCleefArpels

Ah so shouldn’t rub it in till it disappears then? Doesn’t it just sit on the skin in a gross way? I’m worried about interaction with my fake tan (#priorities 🤣)

Fake tan may stop it being absorbed.

If I use fake tan I stop just above my knees :) or apply it on my arms where I don't use fake tan.

If you rub it in @VanCleefArpels from just above the knee to top of thigh on each leg, that's a large area and it ought to dry quickly. Mine dries in about a minute.

@JinglingHellsBells that’s what I do, but only one pump covers both legs in that way. I’m thinking that if I up the dosage I’ll be dripping in the stuff! Applying in the morning might be a better option, thanks @Bagelsandbrie - I usually do the tan at night!

Ok I thought you were supposed to apply it only to a limited size area? And not rub in? I have just checked oestrogel instructions online mcs.open.ac.uk/nlg/old_projects/pills/corpus/PIL/data/Hoechst/Oestrogel/Oestrogel.html and I am supposed to 'spread' (not rub in?) one or two pumps to an area the size of the 'template' on upper arms or thighs and then leave for five minutes. I apply four pumps, two to each arm or thigh and it dries fine in five minutes without rubbing in. But I notice estradiol instructions are different in their description of the areas so check individual information.

Just watched the video mentioned by @JinglingHellsBells - think I will do arms in the mornings from now on. It’s clear from the video that the whole arm shoulder to elbow is covered by one pump which is reassuring!

I squirt mine directly to inner thigh and spread out thinly over quite a large area...similar to Jingling I guess, from her description, I find it leaves a layer like when we used to schoolglue over hands to peel it off
I waft about with bare legs for a bit, but if I am in a hurry then i blast it with the hair dryer. Which always reminds me of that AIBU thread from the woman with the husband who spent hours blow drying himself after a shower, but never mind!

I read about the "template" in the instructions, but never found one so all over it goes!

I heard tell of the template on Mumsnet but when I put it over a smaller area I felt sick so I spread it out again.

Hi , what is a template please ?

There was mention somewhere of a template which showed you how/ where to put the gel. I could not find it though.

I am just about to start using the gel. I had a consultation with a menopause specialist and she said that she usually agrees with everything Dr Louise Newson says but the only thing she disagrees is that the gel should be rubbed in - I was told to lightly apply it and let it sink into my body. Some people actually use the lid to apply so that it doesn't get absorbed into their skin on the hands.

I think the issue might be that no ones fit the tune to wait for a thick layer of gel to absorb itself - you need to encourage it in!

after googling for the video that @JinglingHellsBells mentioned I have been rubbing mine in to my arms ...so much less faff than spreading it thin and waiting for it to dry or hairdryering it.

it's about 30-40 seconds to rub it in, I timed the video!