Oestrogen and progesterone are hormones that are important for sexual and reproductive development [eg, menstrual, pregnancy] in women. As oestrogen decreases during the pre-menstrual period, post-pregnancy, and menopause, women will experience significant impacts on their skin, including more water loss, an increase in microorganisms like bacteria, and decreased wound healing. Such condition can aggravate skin affected by Atopic Dermatitis [Eczema], which already has a compromised skin barrier due to a lack of the protein filaggrin.

Quick Facts about Oestrogen and Progesterone

• The hormones progesterone and oestrogen are responsible for menstruation producing multiple responses in tissues and organs throughout the body.
• Oestrogen increases after menstruation and peaks just before ovulation [the release of the egg from the ovary] during a normal menstrual cycle,
• After ovulation, the progesterone will increase while the oestrogen decreases
• Our skin has numerous oestrogen receptors and progesterone receptors. Therefore, cyclical fluctuations of hormones will influence the skin’s capability in producing lipids and oils, skin thickness, fat deposition, skin hydration, and barrier function.
• Oestrogen offers various benefits to the skin such as increasing the collagen production, reducing sebum [oil], improving the water-binding capacity, increasing fluid retention, promoting the healing of wound, and increasing the skin’s elasticity.
• Oestrogen influences the skin’s pigmentation, sensitivity to UV light, and the microorganisms that live on the skin.

The Influence of Oestrogen on Eczema

During the pre-menstrual period, post-pregnancy, and menopause, the decrease in oestrogen poses significant effects on the skin, including more water loss, an increase in microorganisms [bacteria], and a decline in wound healing capability.

These processes can aggravate skin affected by eczema where your skin barrier is already weakened due to a lack of protein filaggrin, which in turn, decreasing the skin’s ability to retain the natural amount of water causing dry skin and allows allergens and germs to penetrate the weakened skin barrier.

1. Hormone Level during PMS Phase

It is estimated that 47% of women with Atopic Dermatitis [AD] experience worsening of AD during the premenstrual week. Most women with AD experience a variety of symptoms related to hormone fluctuations observe that their skin lesions worsen during PMS phase [pre-menstrual syndrome].

2. Hormone Level during Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the body has the highest levels of oestrogen. Some pregnant mothers experience worse bouts of AD [eczema flare-ups] during their pregnancy, while other women find that their symptoms improve during pregnancy. A study shows that women with AD had worse symptoms during the first 5 months of gestation, while approximately 24% of women had an improvement in their AD during their pregnancy.

3. Hormone Level during Menopause

Generally, one year after a woman’s last period is deemed to have reached the menopause phase. Both oestrogen and progesterone will decrease in menopause [when a woman stops menstruating]. The decrease in these hormones will impact the skin with AD, especially the water loss and severe dryness of the skin. Although hormone replacement therapy can minimize these effects, it has some risks besides the benefits it offers, and thus, it is not recommended for its effects on the skin alone.