Hormones and Hives: How Shifting Hormones Can Trigger Flare-Ups

Summary: If your skin breaks out in itchy, red hives right before your period, you are not imagining it! Hormones like estrogen and progesterone rise and fall during your menstrual cycle. Your immune system has special cells called mast cells that react to these hormone changes. This can trigger hives about three to five days before your period starts.

Many women reach for ibuprofen to help with period cramps, but if you get hives, you should avoid it. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can actually make your hives much worse! Doctors suggest using acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead.

Hormonal hives can be unpredictable. For some women, pregnancy or menopause makes the hives better, but for others, it makes them worse. In rare cases, women might actually have "progesterone hypersensitivity," which is an allergic reaction to hormone medications like birth control or IVF treatments. If you get hives every month, keep a symptom diary with photos and talk to an allergist to find the right treatment.

For more details, see Cleveland Clinic at health.clevelandclinic.org/chronic-hives-and-menstruation (opens in new tab)