Have you ever wondered why your periods don’t only come with abdominal pains but also a skin rash that seems to last only for the duration of the menses?
Imagine having to deal with such every month, health experts explain what might be the reason for these outbreaks and how they are related to your menstrual cycle.
The Cleveland Clinic explains hives as raised red bumps or splotches on the skin caused by allergic reactions. “Hives are often very itchy, but you might also feel burning or stinging. They can be as small as a fingertip or as big as a dinner plate. The medical name for hives is urticaria.”
The above clinic adds on to say that chronic hives are more common in women than men due to different hormones. It states that mast cells, responsible for hives, have estrogen and progesterone receptors, which can cause an outbreak of chronic hives around menstruation due to hormone fluctuation.
“During your menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone levels can rise and fall. It can be common to experience an outbreak of chronic hives around your time of menstruation thanks to that hormone fluctuation, which triggers the release of histamine. You may notice hives flaring up about three to five days before menstruation,” states Cleveland.
Furthermore, it is mentioned that hives may peak three to five days before menstruation and typically improve after the menstrual cycle and that some pain medication that you take during your period can also contribute to chronic hives.
According to the Chronic Hives publication, “Some women have what is known as a sex hormone allergy. This is when you are easily affected by hormones that control some physical functions like your period.” The publication further explains that the cause is unclear, one theory suggests that certain hormones trigger histamine release in mast cells, and another suggests that the body can handle small amounts of sex hormones, but may fight against them during periods.
Very Well Mind talks about progesterone hypersensitivity and states that it is an allergic reaction in the skin caused by a rise in progesterone during menstruation. “Another cause of allergic reactions leading up to and during your period is catamenial dermatosis which causes similar skin problems and anaphylactic symptoms to appear. Catamenial dermatosis begins at the start of your period rather than before. Both conditions are believed to be rare.”
Also see: Stigmatization around menstruation remains prevalent
