Menopause is said to have set in when a women stops ovulating and her period

ceases. Menopause allergies are common with some women. Most women reach menopause
between the age of 45 and 55 years and the average age for reaching menopause is
around 50 years.

However, 1% percent of women reach menopause before 40. Referred to as premature

menopause, or premature ovarian failure, menopause brings with it a host of
discomforts, including allergies from various allergens present in the
environment. The immune system of menopausal women goes into disarray and many
become susceptible to allergies during menopause.

Menopause Allergies: What Are They

Allergens are substances, most often eaten or inhaled, which can cause an allergic
reaction when recognized by the immune system. The medical world has not been able
to come up with a comprehensive list of allergens, because sensitivities vary from
one individual to another. To make matters worse, it is possible to be allergic to
literally anything.

Menopause Allergies: Causes

The main cause of allergy in menopausal women is usually progesterone. It is very

rare and difficult to treat, but occurs often enough to cause discomfort and pain.
Allergies include a broad variety of symptoms and have an effect on people in
different ways. The severity of allergic reactions can depend on the type of
allergen, the level of exposure and each individual's immune response.

Menopause Allergies: Symptoms

Medical research on progesterone, irrespective of its origin, whether synthetic,

produced by the body or from natural supplements or application of creams, has
observed and accredited progesterone with causing rare allergic reactions to the
user.
The symptoms can be rashes to urticaria, better known as 'hives,' or life-
threatening reactions like anaphylactic shock. Progesterone, produced by the body,
has caused very severe allergic rashes in menopausal women is very difficult to
treat.

Menopause Allergies: Effects

Allergic symptoms during menopause can result in acne, rosacea, psoriasis and
seborrheic dermatitis. Some relief givers are different topical medications for
the problem. Certain type of seborrhea responds well to antifungal drugs like
ketoconazole cream, others respond well to sulfa-based compounds.

Some need occasional short courses of cortisone creams. Menopausal women should be
careful not to overdo the cortisones. This can have damaging side effects, if used
over a prolonged period, or if the medication used on thin skin is too potent.

Other menopause and allergies issues extend to inexplicable episodes of

anaphylaxis due to abnormal reactivity to progesterone that tend to be pre-
menopausal, but may occur anytime. The pathogenesis of this disorder is unknown,
but laboratory studies indicate that progesterone may either induce histamine
release from basophiles directly or make mast cells more susceptible to other mast
cell degranulators.

Evidence of estrogen and progesterone hormone allergy discovered by researchers in

Austin, Texas, shows that some women with menopausal allergies, like asthma and
migraine headaches, might be experiencing allergies to their own estrogen and
progesterone hormones.

Women patients who experienced health changes during their menstrual cycle had
higher levels of IgE antibodies against progesterone and estrogen than menopausal
women did. Allergies can be caused seemingly unexpected. What you are allergic
today, you may not be allergic to tomorrow. Menopause and allergies is an
increasing problem for the medical practitioners the world over, but efforts are
on to find healthy solutions for them.