---
title: Does skin sensitivity to nickel change during your menstrual cycle?
description: No. Skin sensitivity to nickel did not increase before the period. However, repeated nickel testing itself made the skin more sensitive.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/nickel-patch-test-reactivity-and-the-menstrual-cycle-1994/
---

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- Does skin sensitivity to nickel change during your menstrual cycle?

Study, 1994

# Does skin sensitivity to nickel change during your menstrual cycle?

No. Skin sensitivity to nickel did not increase before the period. However, repeated nickel testing itself made the skin more sensitive.

 Moderate study design

20 women with regular periods and nickel allergies

## What they did

20 women with nickel allergies were tested with nickel patch tests on days 7-10 and days 20-24 of their cycle. Ten different concentrations of nickel were tested to find the lowest level that caused a skin reaction.

## What they found

There was no difference in nickel sensitivity between days 7-10 and days 20-24. When patch tests were repeated weeks later, women showed increased sensitivity to nickel on the second test, suggesting the first test made their skin more reactive.

## What it means for you

Nickel sensitivity does not appear to increase before the period in women with nickel allergies. However, the testing itself increased sensitivity to the allergen. The study is limited to 20 women.

20

Women with nickel allergies

## About the study

Original title Nickel patch test reactivity and the menstrual cycle Authors Rohold AE, Halkier-Sørensen L, Andersen KE et al. Journal Acta dermato-venereologica Year 1994 Study design Study Participants 20 What was tested Nickel patch tests at different menstrual cycle phases Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.2340/0001555574383385](https://doi.org/10.2340/0001555574383385)

## Topics

[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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