Improper use of whitening skin care products can cause amenorrhea

Ms. Liu, 32, suddenly had amenorrhea six months ago. She went to the gynecology department for a checkup but could not find the cause. After being referred by the doctor to the endocrinology department for a checkup, it was found that her prolactin level was twice that of a normal person and her androgen was also abnormal. After excluding other causes, the expert learned that the patient had been using a whitening skin care product for a year, and the effect was obvious. Amenorrhea occurred three months ago. The expert recommended that she stop using the skin care product. Two months later, Ms. Liu came for a follow-up checkup and found that her prolactin level had dropped to normal.

According to the doctor, such female patients are not uncommon in clinical practice. The main cause of their amenorrhea is related to the long-term use of whitening skin care products or health care products containing hormone ingredients, which not only causes menstrual disorders and amenorrhea, but also can cause infertility in severe cases.

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone, also called prolactin, which is one of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Its main function is to participate in promoting breast development and milk production. The moderate secretion of prolactin can maintain the balance of the endocrine system in the body, so that women can have normal menstruation, ovulate, and become pregnant. Many middle-aged women like to take health care products and use skin care products. The ingredients of these health care products and cosmetics are unknown, and they often contain hormone ingredients, which will affect the endocrine system and cause prolactin abnormalities. Once the prolactin level increases, it will lead to abnormal gonadotropin, and the follicles cannot develop and mature normally, thus causing irregular menstruation or amenorrhea. For unmarried women, once amenorrhea occurs, it will lead to anovulation and cause infertility.

Be careful when using and taking some cosmetics and health products. If you have menstrual disorders or amenorrhea, you can go to the endocrinology department to check your prolactin level after excluding other diseases through gynecological examination. Even if your prolactin level is abnormal, don't panic. It will generally return to normal as long as you stop using it.