---
title: Can scientists find PMS in skin sweat chemicals? | Niyora
description: Scientists found that certain chemicals in skin sweat vary across the menstrual cycle and differ between women with severe and mild PMS. However, this is very
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/volatile-organic-compounds-from-human-skin-as-biomarkers-of-menstruation-phase-2023/
---

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- Can scientists find PMS in skin sweat chemicals?

Survey study, 2023

# Can scientists find PMS in skin sweat chemicals?

Scientists found that certain chemicals in skin sweat vary across the menstrual cycle and differ between women with severe and mild PMS. However, this is very early research with only 12 women, so we cannot yet use it for diagnosis.

 Early or limited evidence

14 healthy Japanese women aged 20-29 (12 completed)

## What they did

14 Japanese women aged 20-29 (12 completed) provided skin sweat samples at four points during their menstrual cycle. Scientists tested the sweat for 65 different chemicals using laboratory analysis.

## What they found

Seven chemicals significantly changed during menstruation at one body site, with four more showing marginal changes. In women with severe PMS, ketones and fatty acids were higher during menstruation compared to women with mild PMS.

## What it means for you

Skin sweat patterns may one day help diagnose PMS instead of relying only on symptom reports. The main limitation is the very small sample size. Only 12 women completed the study.

14

women enrolled

65

volatile organic compounds tested

7

compounds significantly changed

## About the study

Original title Volatile organic compounds from human skin as biomarkers of menstruation phase and severity of premenstrual syndrome: An exploratory pilot study Authors Fujii T, Matsuura N, Morita Y et al. Journal Heliyon Year 2023 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19627](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19627)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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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