Because some types of eczema are triggered by a woman's menstrual cycle, progesterone is sometimes part of the treatment plan. Many women complain of worsening acne and water retention during the menstrual cycle, but a few actually have autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) a condition in which the menstrual cycle is associated with an number of skin conditions such as urticaria, eczema and others.
In affected women, the flare-ups typically occur three to ten days prior to the menstrual flow and they generally resolve two days after menstruation begins. Women with irregular menses may not have a correlation that is this clear and that can make autoimmune progesterone eczema more difficult to diagnose.
Because of the association between the menstrual cycle and eczema, progesterone creams and supplements are often used to treat the condition. Most women prefer to use supplements and creams that contain natural forms of progester ... Read more »