|
menstruation and psoriasis interrelation may pose a question to the women psoriasis sufferers whose psoriasis changes during their menstrual cycle. Let's discuss psoriasis and menstruation in more detail and see what can be done if your menstrual cycle is affecting your psoriasis.
Hormones and Menstruation
The Menstrual cycle has 5 main stages. Let's take a look at these stages and see what happens during each one of them:
1. Menstruation to Ovulation (~2 weeks)
Hormones: The estrogen hormone increases. The blood vessels of the uterine lining start to dilate and fill with blood, thus preparing for a possible fertilized egg . The "relaxing" hormone progesterone decreases.
2. Ovulation (~2-3days)
Hormones: The estrogen is approaching its peak. Your body releases the hormones that start ovulation. Testosterone increases making you feel more aggressive and/or sexual.
3. Ovulation to Premenstrual (~1 week)
Hormones: After ovulation, estrogen decreases, while the "quiet" oxytocin hormone increases. Your hormones start to "relax" altogether.
4. PMS (~3-5 days before Menstruation)
Hormones: The estrogen decreases. Progesterone first increases, and then also decreases.
5. Menstruation (~3-7 days)
Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone reach their peaks. Blood-filled vessels of the uterine lining tear, the blood pours out of them, the swollen mucous membranes tear off and menstruation starts.
Menstruation and Psoriasis
Here's what many women may observe in regard to their psoriasis and menstruation:
1. Psoriasis worsens and starts to itch just before the period.
2. Psoriasis improves and stops itching right after the period.
In a woman's body, various hormones fluctuate throughout her entire menstrual cycle. Can any/all of these hormone fluctuations affect psoriasis? We don't know, but it all speaks for the hormonal psoriasis theory.
What Can Be Done?
Do you see a link between your menstruation and psoriasis? The culprit could be your thyroid gland or a hormonal imbalance (see Thyroid Psoriasis). If you suspect that you may have any hormonal dysfunctions (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or hormonal imbalance), you may want to visit your endocrinologist and request a hormone test. Some people have reported complete psoriasis remission after having treated their thyroid gland dysfunction or hormonal imbalance.
 |
