When being subjected to exogenous progesterone, one may develop autoimmune progesterone dermatitis, an immune reaction to endogenous progesterone. When progesterone levels are high during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, skin eruptions occur cyclically. Patients can appear with erythema multiforme, eczema, urticaria, angioedema, and progesterone-induced anaphylaxis, among other skin eruptions. Recurrent cyclical aggravation of skin lesions and symptomatic relief following reduction of progesterone secretion by restriction of ovulation are diagnostic criteria for progesterone dermatitis.

Introduction:

Progesterone dermatitis is an uncommon illness marked by a cyclic skin rash that appears in women premenstrually. The syndrome typically manifests in adults after menarche and in rare cases during pregnancy or postmenopause. The appearance of hives, erythema multiforme, papulovesicles (an eczema-like rash), annular erythema, angioedema, oral erosions, and pruritus (itching) are examples of skin abnormalities that have been recorded. The rash normally appears a few days prior to menses, fades around the time menstruation starts, and returns throughout the next cycle.

The rash typically develops during the second half of the cycle when progesterone levels start to rise and usually goes away shortly after menstruation. Though the precise etiology of progesterone dermatitis is unknown, it is believed to be caused by an immunological response that is abnormally sparked by a woman’s own progesterone. Treatment options include topical (applied to the skin) drugs, systemic corticosteroids, hormone therapy to reduce progesterone production, and/or surgical removal of the ovaries, depending on the severity of the illness.

Causes:

Uncertainty exists regarding the precise underlying reason for autoimmune progesterone dermatitis. The majority of scientists think that the cyclic rash happens when an aberrant immune reaction is set off by increasing progesterone levels. According to a second hypothesis, having high amounts of progesterone can cause your body to react more strongly to another allergy. Several hypotheses are

• Exogenous progestogens have the potential to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that are specific for progesterone in addition to a mast cell-mediated response that could go after progesterone receptors stated on keratinocytes above the basal layer. Type 1 (immediate) hypersensitivity reactions are also possible in response to exogenous progestogens.
• A form of type 4 (delayed) hypersensitivity response could be brought on by progestogens.

Due to a continuous immunological reaction to the high levels of progesterone seen in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, sensitive patients thereafter experience cyclical symptoms. The cause is not known for individuals who have never received exogenous progestogens.

Symptoms:

Progesterone dermatitis is largely identified by a recurrent skin rash, the intensity of which fluctuates according to the menstrual cycle phase. When progesterone levels start to climb in the second half of the cycle, the rash typically develops. The rash normally gets better and may even go away entirely until the next cycle after menstruation, when the levels of progesterone naturally drop. Progesterone dermatitis is linked to a number of cutaneous rashes, including:

• Hives
• Multiform erythema
• Angioedema, a skin-deep swelling
• An eczema-like rash
• A niggling erythema
• Oral sores
• Rarely, progesterone-induced anaphylaxis can develop from progesterone dermatitis.

Diagnosis:

Progesterone dermatitis needs to be taken into account if:

• After intramuscular progesterone via injection, the rash is repeatable; other challenge tests include intravaginal or oral. The rash frequently and repeatedly flares up before periods.
• Ovulation can be suppressed to avoid the rash.

The clinical history, which includes the timing of signs around the menstrual cycle, and evidence of a progesterone-induced skin reaction is commonly used to make the diagnosis of progesterone dermatitis. Progesterone is often administered intradermally (skin prick) or intramuscularly (needle injection) into the skin or muscle. Testing is deemed successful when a ‘wheal-and-flare’ skin reaction appears and lasts for at least 24 to 48 hours. Eosinophil count, quantitative immunoglobulin and complement measures, as well as the examination of hormonal variables such as luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and estradiol, are other diagnostic procedures that are mentioned in the medical literature. There are currently no diagnostic dermatological biopsy results that separate progesterone-related illnesses from other aetiologies.

Treatment For Progesterone Dermatitis:

By either promoting the signs of healing or addressing the underlying cause of the sickness, homeopathy activates the body’s natural response system. Patients are provided natural homeopathic treatments for progesterone dermatitis that are free of any potentially dangerous ingredients. They are chosen based on the patient’s unique constitution, and success is achieved by using the constitutional remedy internally. The medication must also start working from the inside out because the disease was brought on by a disruption in the body’s internal equilibrium rather than by any exterior trigger.

This outcome is achieved via homeopathic treatments, which boost a person’s inner vigor and flush out any noxious agents in the body that may be the root of the damage. Treatment response can vary and some women report fewer symptoms during pregnancy. Which is thought to be caused by a natural desensitization process that takes place with the progressive rise in progesterone. While other women report more symptoms during pregnancy. A few homeopathic medicines for progesterone dermatitis are as followed:

• Rhus Tox
• Graphites
• Sulphur
• Dulcamara
• Mezereum
• Natrum Mur

Particular therapies include:

• Pill for oral contraception
• Hormones that release gonadotrophin
• Tamoxifen Oophorectomy
• Injection or topical intravaginal progesterone desensitisation

Precautions For Progesterone Dermatitis:

You should confirm that the levels correspond with the present menstrual cycle phase because progesterone dermatitis levels in women can rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle.

• Increase your fiber intake because it may lower your progesterone levels.
• Exercise might also aid in lowering progesterone.
• Quit smoking.
• Limit your caffeine consumption.
• Boost your natural sun exposure or think about taking vitamin D pills.
• Lowering the stress. Stress hormones can alter the ovaries and sex hormones when levels of stress hormones are elevated as a result of excessive stress.
• The use of herbal supplements.
• Sleeping on a regular schedule.
• Preserving a healthy weight.
• Exercise and physical activity.