Hi Liz
The recommended location for application of transdermal HRT is inconsistent which is puzzling (spreading not rubbing is the official instruction - although I doubt it matters as long as you do one method consistently so as to get as consistent dose as possible) . As far as I recall (but haven't looked them up recently) all the oestrogen patches, together with Sandrena gel recommend application below the waist. Estrogel is alone in saying it can be applied anywhere on arms, shoulders or lower trunk but away from breasts. Trying to find information about transport of oestrogen gel through outer layers of the skin ( as opposed to through the skin to the blood-stream) is difficult and I don't have the time to research this level of detail - although now and again when the subject comes up I have a quick look! So the answer is we just don't know why there is this discrepancy and whether it is a precaution (due to proximity of inner arms and shoulders to the breasts) or just due to differences in absorption. None of the papers I've looked at go into this particular aspect.
There is an interesting in depth discussion about different aspects of gel absorption here which you and other gel users might find interesting:
http://surmeno.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/troubleshooting-gel-hrts.htmlIt includes the findings that lower systemic levels are obtained when gel is applied to the largest possible area ie spread out as thinly as possible - which I have reported a couple of times in the past.
The article also advocates applying gel in the mornings to fit with our natural circadian rhythms (oestrogen is highest in the morning) - but not quite sure how applying it at a particular time would affect your daily fluctuations as it takes time to be transported and theoeretically reaches a steady state if you keep applying it regularly.
That was the long answer!
![Smiley :)](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/smiley.gif)
Short answer is wrist to elbow are a long way from breast so I wouldn't worry personally, except of course in relation to transfer issue!
Hurdity x