Hi Diggers - this is the information I was given via a Menopause Consultant recently As joziel on here suggests a spatula is a really good idea to use as that way you don't get it all over your hands anyway. I have been all around the houses since the HRT shortage and was put on 2 different patches, plus Lenzetto spray but I am now back on Oestrogel which I was on happily for over 20 years before. For me it without doubt works the best but different types of HRT suit different people. Personally I find the inner thigh the best place to apply it. I am now on 3 pumps so I apply one and half in morning and evening. Hope the below helps xx 'OESTROGEL TRANSDERMAL GEL
Oestrogel comes in a metered pump which should deliver an accurate dose when correctly applied.
No more than one pump should be applied to each limb and only the inner surfaces of the limbs, i.e., the inner thighs and inner upper arms, should be used. The skin is thinner in these areas which leads to improved absorption.
The gel must always be applied in a ‘pat and glide’ motion and should not be rubbed in in a ‘windscreen wiper’ motion. Rubbing in merely leads to waste as a substantial proportion of the gel, sometimes as much as 20-30%, ends up spread over the palms/fingers and is subsequently washed away after application. The gel should be pumped onto the palm of the hand and if the correct technique is used there should be virtually no gel left on the hand after application, indicating optimal utilisation of the product.
In general, the whole of the surface involved should be used: the gel can take up to 5 minutes and occasionally longer to absorb, depending on the surface area used. This delay can be quite frustrating and unfortunately it is one of the drawbacks of this particular product.
The gel should be applied to clean, dry skin with no skin lotion/oil applied beforehand.
The gel should be kept dry and out of sunlight for a full hour after application to ensure optimal absorption.
As with other daily transdermal products, the gel should ideally be applied consistently at the same time every 24 hours: if a dose is omitted inadvertently, it should be applied as soon as this has been recognised. ''