What do hormones have to do with allergies?

#hormonesandallergies #histamineoverload #histamineintolerance #allergies #digestiveissues #perimenopause #estrogenhistamineconnection #progesteronehistamineconnection #thyroidhistamineconnection #holisticapproach

Some women find that their allergies worsen during perimenopause.

There's a reason for this. Yep, you’re not making this up…

In women over 40, hormonal fluctuations can affect the body's ability to regulate histamine levels due to the decline of progesterone levels that create an imbalance in relation to estrogen.

In short: hormonal shifts can make you more prone to histamine overload, meaning your allergies, skin, peri symptoms and digestion can all take a hit.

Histamine can get a bad reputation, but it’s really that excess of histamine that we want to avoid, because it makes us feel not so great.

Histamine is a chemical that is involved in our immune system function, our digestive system, and our nervous system. It is also a component of our stomach acid.

Our body makes it and we also ingest it with food and drinks we consume.

If you are an allergy sufferer, you're probably familiar with antihistamines, which block histamine in the body.

Histamine is either stored in the body or broken down by one of these two enzymes:

Histamine in the digestive tract is broken down primarily by diamine oxidase (DAO).
Histamine in the central nervous system is broken down primarily by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT).

Some people have a genetic predisposition to a slower DAO or HMT activity and are naturally at higher risk to developing allergy-type symptoms. This can be influenced by lifestyle and specific supplements that support the activity of these enzymes.

Symptoms of Histamine Overload

Histamine affects your entire body, not just your sinuses. Too much of it can contribute to:

Itchy skin, eyes, ears, nose
Bloody Nose
Irritability
Difficulty falling asleep – Histamine from mast cells in the brain can promote wakefulness
Headaches or Migraines
Eczema or other types of dermatitis
Flushing or redness of skin
Hives or Rashes
Excess sweating during exercise
Fast resting heartbeat, heart palpitations or irregular heart beat
Trouble regulating body temperature
Facial swelling or other tissue swelling
Tightness in the throat
Vertigo or dizziness – allergies affect the Eustachian tubes in your ears, which help regulate balance
Abnormal menstrual cycle
Fatigue
Breathing issues like asthma
Anxiety or panic attacks – Histamine acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and can contribute to anxiety, depression and other psychiatric conditions
Depression or mood changes
Nasal and sinus congestion
Swelling and redness of eyes
Heartburn, reflux, indigestion, nausea or diarrhea

Sound familiar? If so, it’s time to dig deeper.

What do hormones have to do with histamine or allergies?

The Estrogen-Histamine Connection: Estrogens act primarily via receptors. Estrogen can make the immune system more prone to allergic reactions by increasing certain immune responses, leading to higher production of allergy-related antibodies (IgE) and triggering the release of histamine from immune cells like mast cells and basophils. Source

Mast cells not only release histamine, but they also have receptors for estrogen. When estrogen binds to these receptors, more histamine is released from mast cells in your uterus. So the more estrogen you have in your body, the more histamine is released.

Estrogen can also slow down diamine oxidase (DAO) production (the enzyme that breaks down histamine) in the gut, at least this has been found in animal studies.

In other words, more estrogen means you release more histamine than you can break down, and since histamine turns up estrogen production, it can quickly become a vicious cycle.

The Progesterone-Histamine Connection: Interestingly, progesterone keeps our mast cells "calm" and improves our ability to make DAO, which is helpful if we've got too much histamine.

The Thyroid-Histamine Connection: Research has found that mast cells have the ability to synthesize and store thyroid hormones like T3 and TSH. This means that mast cells can modulate thyroid function, and an increase of mast cells can be linked to hypothyroidism. Source

Of course estrogen and progesterone fluctuations will also impact your thyroid function, as will your liver function.

You may also notice that histamine intolerance symptoms are worse at different times in your cycle. Even when hormones are balanced, estrogen is at its highest point right before ovulation, so symptoms are often worse then or when progesterone is low in the second half of the cycle.

Women in perimenopause with low progesterone and high/erratically fluctuating estrogen may find themselves with new allergies or may find that their allergies have gotten worse. Some women find that their symptoms worsen when they add estrogen HRT, especially if it is not balanced with progesterone.

Most women end up taking antihistamines on a daily basis to help with symptoms. While it seems like a convenient solution, you should be aware of the downside effects these medications can have:

Antihistamines can lead to low estrogen production.
And did you know that histamine increases libido? Women using antihistamines often report low libido.
Using pharmaceutical antihistamines long-term has a negative impact on your gut health. Side effects include diarrhea or constipation.
Another thing you should know about antihistamines: they don’t lower your histamine levels, they only block your histamine receptors for the time the drug remains efficient. Once the drug wears off, you’re getting the full blast of built up histamine and your symptoms are getting worse unless you take another Benadryl.

How to Reduce Histamine & Feel Better

Instead of relying on antihistamines (which only block symptoms temporarily), addressing the root causes will help you find long-term relief. Here’s where to start:

1. Heal Your Gut

Your gut plays a major role in histamine breakdown. If you struggle with bloating, IBS, acid reflux or food sensitivities, addressing gut imbalances is key. Work on:

Removing gut pathogens (via stool testing & targeted support)
Supporting digestion & nutrient absorption
Strengthening your gut lining to prevent histamine buildup
Try histamine reducing probiotics like Probiota HistaminX

2. Reduce High-Histamine Foods

Some foods naturally contain histamine or trigger its release, including:

Alcohol (red wine, champagne, beer)
Aged & fermented foods (cheese, sauerkraut, kombucha, vinegar, soy sauce)
Cured meats & leftovers (opt for fresh protein instead)
Certain fruits & veggies (strawberries, tomatoes, bananas, spinach, avocado)
Bone broth & collagen (swap for fresh-cooked meats if you’re sensitive)
Avoid overconsuming foods that block DAO from breaking down histamine like green & black tea. Certain medications may also release histamine or block DAO.

3. Support Detox & Nutrient Levels

Your body needs key nutrients to break down histamine efficiently. Make sure you’re getting:

Vitamin B6 & copper (help produce DAO, the enzyme that clears histamine)
Zinc & folate (support histamine metabolism and immune function)
Liver-supporting foods (crucial for detoxing excess histamine & hormones)
Try trialing enzymes that help to break down histamine in the gut like Histamine Nutrients by Seeking Health or DAO complex from Copmed these also have the cofactors to support histamine metabolism

4. Balance Your Hormones

If histamine issues spike around your cycle or have worsened in perimenopause, it’s worth checking your hormones. Some steps to help:

Detox excess estrogen
Support progesterone production naturally and bioidentical hormone supplementation
Remove/reduce exposure to estrogen-mimicking chemicals, which tend to lurk everywhere. Not only do endogenous estrogens appear to play a role, but environmental estrogens have also been implicated. Environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens) including bisphenol A and phthalates enhance allergic sensitization in animal models and may enhance development of atopic disorders like asthma in humans.

Ready to Get to the Root of Your Symptoms?

If seasonal allergies, skin reactions, or unexplained symptoms are making your life miserable, don’t just mask the issue - address the underlying causes. I help women rebalance their hormones, heal their gut, and improve their overall well-being so they can feel their best.

Let’s work together! Contact me to start your personalized plan and finally find relief from histamine overload.