Study of cutaneous manifestations of polycystic ovarian syndrome

The study, which included 100 female patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), found that the most common skin manifestations were hirsutism (85%), acne (73%), seborrhea (50%), androgenetic alopecia (AGA) (36%), acanthosis nigricans (29%), and acrochordons (9%). Insulin resistance was the most common hormonal abnormality, present in 53% of patients, followed by elevated free testosterone (19%) and serum prolactin (18%). There was a significant correlation between AGA and insulin resistance, hirsutism and raised prolactin levels, and seborrhea and increased body mass index (BMI). The study highlighted the importance of dermatological symptoms in diagnosing PCOS and suggested the need for an endocrinological evaluation in patients with hirsutism. The study was ethically approved, and no conflicts of interest or funding sources were reported.