The possible relevance of sex hormones on irritant and allergic responses: their importance for skin testing

Dermatological responses are affected by the menstrual cycle phase in female patients, an unsurprising observation as oestrogen and progesterone affect the skin and immunological function, with oestrogen suppression of cellular immunity in particular. Exacerbation of dermatological symptoms is typically observed in either the latter phase of the menstrual cycle or during menstruation. The allergic response is diminished in the ovulatory phase and heightened in the progestinic phase. Definitive conclusions with regard to the effect of reproductive hormones on skin disorders have been somewhat hampered by a body of research that has employed diverse research parameters, such as dosage, testing sites, concentration, vehicle of irritant delivery, and method of assessment, however, individual patient sensitivity varies widely. Standardization of measurement techniques is necessary to provide reproducible results as much as individual patient variation and technique will allow.