A Case of Estrogen Dermatitis

ABSTRACT

Sensitivity to estrogen has been described previously. The clinical picture is varied with pruritus, either generalized or localued or as urticaria. The hallmark of estrogen dermatitis is the cyclic premenstrual flare. The patient reported here had cyclic erythema multiforme-like lesions and showed a positive intradermal skin test to estrogen. A 20-year-old female patient presented with a periodic 5 year duration of skin lesions on both hands. The eruption commenced in the second half of the menstrual cycle, worsened through the luteal phase but the lesion almost disappeared during menstruation. An intradermal skin test to estrone showed positive results. However, a skin test with medroxyprogesterone acetate was negative. After systemic steroid and antihistamine therapy, the lesions were found to be significantly improved.