Coincidence?

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Ok, I just wanted to share this with all of you... I was doing a google search on which week during a menstrual cycle do you lose hair and eyelashes (something that is common for me) and this is what I found:Clinician's Photo Guide To Recognizing and Treating Skin Diseases in Women Part 1. Dermatoses Not Linked to Pregnancy Author: Chee Leok Goh, MD, MRCP, FRCP, FAMS, University of Singapore, National Skin Centre The

clinical presentation of certain dermatologic conditions differs between women and men; this may be especially true when women are perimenstrual or pregnant. Skin diseases that erupt or become aggravated

during the perimenstrual period include autoimmune progesterone dermatitis and melasma. Dermatologic conditions that may be exacerbated perimenstrually include acne vulgaris, rosacea, lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, atopic eczema, lichen planus, dermatitis herpetiformis, erythema multiforme, and urticaria. The hormonal effects of increased cutaneous vascularity, seborrhea, and dermal edema during the perimenstrual period may account for the eruption of or increase in severity of these diseases. Clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, and treatment options for select cutaneous conditions are discussed. Introduction It is well known that certain skin diseases are more prevalent in women than in men. Some

skin diseases are seen in association with or are aggravated by pregnancy. [see also Clinician's Photo Guide to Recognizing and Treating

Skin Diseases in Women: Part 2. Pregnancy-Related Dermatoses] Others are more frequently seen during the perimenstrual period. In addition, the clinical presentation of some skin diseases differs between women and men. Such differences in presentation may be due to gender differences in genetic makeup and hormonal states. Medical practitioners

should be aware of these differences so that skin diseases occurring in

women are readily recognized and properly treated. This article reviews the clinical presentation and management of select skin diseases in women, including those that erupt or are exacerbated during the perimenstrual period. These include autoimmune progesterone dermatitis and melasma. Other dermatologic conditions that may be exacerbated perimenstrually include acne vulgaris, rosacea, lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, atopic eczema, lichen planus, dermatitis herpetiformis,[1] erythema multiforme, and urticaria. The hormonal effects of increased cutaneous vascularity, seborrhea, and dermal edema during the perimenstrual period may account for the increase in the severity of these diseases.[2] Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis (AIPD) Description

of disease. AIPD represents an autoimmune hypersensitivity reaction to endogenous progesterone.[3] The condition presents with a variety of skin eruptions characterized by cyclical recurrent premenstrual exacerbations due to progesterone fluctuation during the menstrual cycle. The type of skin eruptions observed in AIPD include dermatitis, erythema multiforme, urticaria, vesicular lesions, stomatitis, herpes-like dermatitis, and papular lesions.[2] There are no

classic morphologic or histologic features. AIPD usually presents during early adult life, and the disease may periodically go into spontaneous remission. Exogenous progesterone (eg, in oral contraceptives containing progestational agents like norethindrone or synthetic progestogens like norgestrel or levonorgestrel) may aggravate the skin eruptions of AIPD. These eruptions usually flare up during the latter half of the menstrual cycle, peaking premenstrually and resolving

within a few days of menses. This disease may become worse during pregnancy.[4] Differential diagnoses. The differential diagnosis of

AIPD includes the skin disorders it mimics, such as endogenous and contact dermatitis, various cases of urticaria, erythema multiforme, drug eruption, insect bite reaction, and scabies. The syndrome is confirmed by evidence of hypersensitivity to progesterone, which is demonstrated by intradermal skin testing with progesterone. Treatment.

Definitive treatment of AIPD involves the use of anovulatory agents (such as estrogen) to suppress endogenous progesterone secretion. In mild disease, the skin eruptions may be controlled with midpotency topical steroids and oral antihistamines. However, when patients do not respond to conventional treatment or to oral estrogen preparations, systemic steroids may be necessary. Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen agent, may be effective in some patients but may cause amenorrhea. In some cases, the eruptions often settle spontaneously after a period of successful treatment.[2] In the most severe cases, however, oophorectomy may be required to control the skin eruptions of AIPD.Which then led me to this site: http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Maternal/dermatological.htmAnd what was right there in the middle of the page? "Erythema Nodosum"! It's a small world after all! I'm trying to figure out how (for me) EN seems to be connected to my hormones. Will keep you all updated with my progress. This next week I'm going to be starting on an all natural progesterone serum, so we'll see if that does anything as well! Adamo