Oral contraceptives impacting my atopic dermatitis?

Hi, I registered just to respond in this discussion.
I has dermatitis as a kid in my hands because of allergies, as your story I grew out of it. My skin would just peel off because there was a wood working place next to my school and I'm allergic to sawdust.


In my 20s I got diagnost with PCOS so I got prescribed oral contraceptives. I didn't put together that soon after I started to get the flares. At the same time I was in a stressful situation, and got the eczema flares in my arms. They looked like zombie bites. I did the elimination diet, I stopped eating proccessed food. Lifestyle change. Nothing. No one even mentioned the pill.


That year was also one of the worst emotional years in my life, honestly I think it was an undiagnost depression. A high functioning depression, or something like it. One weeked with some friends out and I lost the pill and decided to just wait for the next month. The next to weeks was going from living under rain and then going to the sun. I felt SO good. That I decided to not take it again.


At the end of that month I noticed that my flares had subsided. I asked a dermatologist if hormonal change could impact in the ezcema, and he said it could go both ways: it could make it worse or better. That sealed the deal, I haven't taken another contraceptive since then. I went to a new gynecologist that wanted to put me right back on them without paying attention about what I had said about the deprassion and the eczema, and I just didn't go back.


Fastforward to last year, before pandemic, I hadn't gone back to the doctor for my pcos (which I know is carelessness from my part). So I went to a gynecologyst-endocrinologist. Made some test, and instead of the pill she put me on metformine. The lockdown happened. I was two weeks in the metformine when my flares came back. I called the doctor and she said to go out of metmorfin and if the allergic reaction stopped, just stopped all together the treatment.


So, metformine is not a contraceptive but it does also play with the hormones. Don't know if it has to do, in my case, more with my body reacting to anything from outside that messes with my hormones.

Hi GosiaG,
Just writing as a new member to validate your experience.
Like you, I've seen the frequency of flares from AD come and go over the years. I was one of those for whom eczema got better but sebum production greater and acne much worse, during pregnancy. The article to which Sarah linked is a good summary.
In particular, estrogen drops have been clearly linked to flare-ups for me. I've been going through perimenopause for many years now, and this was one of the signs before I even knew what was happening. Once a month right before my period, my hands would get very dry and the nails would all break within a day or two. I've been having a chronic flare and even some thickening around one eye for the last three years that no amount of hydration or treatments have been able to durably address (doing better around the mouth). Currently I'm on a progestative (nomegestrol) to get the estrogen peaks and valleys under control 3 weeks out of 4, as they've been causing other problems, but it's not great in all respects, and the areas affected by AD are increasing.
A few years ago, I was given some estrogen patches to try (lacking other knowledge which could've made it a more successful trial, and I may return to the idea). Gluing something on my atopic skin wasn't ideal, but dosage modulation was pretty good as you can cut them into tiny fragments. I'm interested in HRT ultimately if my relationship with the prescribing doctor will let me adjust the regimen to my needs (skin, psyche, migraines, bones). So I'm trying to build that relationship as of now, because I can just imagine what will happen when the skin is permanently thinner and drier than it is even now!
All this to say, suppressing your natural estrogen production may indeed be a problem for your skin. I'm a doctor (not physician) myself, and there are a lot of doctors who let their superficial broad knowledge get in the way of learning from a specific situation like yours. We all have our cognitive biases. I agree that, if at all possible, it's important to find one who respects your observations about your body.

, I'm glad that stopping the pill has helped your AD go away. It seems like your suspicion was correct! That's really disappointing to hear your doctor continues to push off the idea that the oral contraceptives could be causing your eczema to flare.

I know finding a new doctor can be time consuming and stressful. It could be worth it to find a new one if you ever need to see one again in the future. Having a doctor that is understanding and empathetic to your situation is so important. You deserve to see someone who listens to your concerns!

-Sarah (AtopicDermatitis.net Team Member)

Hi , I wanted to see how things were going. Have you still been experiencing flares while taking the pill? Have you been able to get your doctor to take your situation seriously?

I'm linking you to an article about hormones and AD, which might lend some insight into your situation: https://atopicdermatitis.net/affect-hormones. When we first shared this article it helped to validate many females in the community who said they felt like their flares were linked to periods of hormonal change.

Wishing you well,
Sarah (AtopicDermatitis.net Team Member)