Case-control study, 2004
Do skin diseases in women with PMS relate to allergic reactions to female sex hormones?
Women with PMS showed allergic reactions to female sex hormones whether or not they had skin problems. Desensitization treatment improved both PMS symptoms and skin disease.
What they did
This case-control study examined 30 women: 10 with PMS and skin disease, 10 with PMS but no skin disease, and 10 healthy women. Researchers tested their skin with female sex hormones to look for allergic reactions and gave desensitization treatment to 15 of the women with PMS.
What they found
All 20 women with PMS showed allergic reactions to the sex hormones tested, but none of the 10 healthy women did. Women who received desensitization treatment had improvements in both their PMS symptoms and skin disease.
What it means for you
This very small study suggests some PMS-related skin problems might be due to allergic reactions to hormones. The findings need testing in larger groups of women before doctors could rely on them.
30
Total women studied
20
Women with PMS who showed allergic reactions
15
Women who received desensitization treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome and associated skin diseases related to hypersensitivity to female sex hormones
- Authors
- Itsekson A, Lazarov A, Cordoba M et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of reproductive medicine
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 15
- What was tested
- Desensitization treatment
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15098889/