Dermatologic Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons

February 2019 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Howa Yeung, Kevin M. Luk, Shuo Chen, Brian Ginsberg, Kenneth A. Katz

alopecia finasteride hormonal therapy gender-affirming surgery acne chest binding facial hair removal Propecia

Studysummary This article reviews the unique health issues and preventive care recommendations for LGBT individuals, emphasizing dermatologic considerations and the importance of culturally competent care, but reports no new clinical findings.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document from 2019 addresses the specific dermatologic health concerns and disparities among LGBT individuals, with a focus on MSM, WSW, and transgender patients. It outlines the increased risk of infectious diseases like HIV, syphilis, and other STDs in MSM, as well as non-infectious conditions such as skin cancer, and stresses the need for tailored screening and preventive care. WSW are noted to have disparities in STDs, and the importance of safer sex practices is emphasized. For transgender patients, the document discusses the dermatologic implications of hormonal therapy and gender-affirming surgery, including the management of side effects like acne and alopecia. A case series mentioned in the document showed that 10 transgender men with grade IV alopecia treated with finasteride 1 mg daily experienced a 1-grade improvement in an average of 5.5 months. The document also addresses the side effects of practices like chest binding in transgender men and the challenges of facial hair removal in transgender women. It concludes with a call for dermatologists to be knowledgeable about LGBT health issues and to provide culturally competent care.

View this study on europepmc.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

2170 citations , September 2017 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism”

This updated guideline from the Endocrine Society highlights the importance of endocrinologists in providing safe and effective hormone regimens for gender-affirming care, especially for adolescents who have entered puberty.

research Therapeutic Experience with Oral Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia in Female-to-Male Transgender Patients

32 citations , July 2017 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

This study assessed the use of oral finasteride in transgender men with androgenetic alopecia and found that all patients improved by one grade on the Norwood–Hamilton scale within about 5.5 months, with no significant adverse effects reported during the 16.2 months of follow-up.

research What Surgeons Need to Know About Gender Confirmation Surgery When Providing Care for Transgender Individuals

126 citations , February 2017 in “JAMA Surgery”

This article outlines best practices from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's standards to guide health care professionals in providing comprehensive care for transgender individuals, addressing mental health, endocrinology, and surgery.

research Dermatologic Care of the Transgender Patient

41 citations , December 2016 in “International Journal of Women's Dermatology”

This review discusses the unique dermatologic needs of transgender individuals during transitioning and emphasizes the importance of accommodating care in medical settings; it reports no new clinical results.

research Laser Hair Removal for Genital Gender Affirming Surgery

33 citations , May 2016 in “Translational andrology and urology”

This review examines hair removal practices prior to genital gender affirming surgery, noting current variations and offering a practical laser hair removal approach, but reports no new clinical results.

research Testosterone Therapy for Transgender Men: Effects and Safety

162 citations , April 2016 in “The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology”

This review discusses the effects of testosterone therapy for transgender men, noting desired outcomes and potential risks, but reports no new research findings; the authors highlight a lack of high-quality data due to various study limitations.

research HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Transgender Women: A Subgroup Analysis of the iPrEx Trial

210 citations , November 2015 in “The Lancet HIV”

This study observed that while PrEP was effective among transgender women if taken, adherence was low, especially among those at higher risk.

research Short- and Long-Term Clinical Skin Effects of Testosterone Treatment in Trans Men

110 citations , October 2013 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

This study found that testosterone therapy in trans men increased facial and body hair growth while the prevalence and severity of acne peaked at 6 months but were primarily mild after long-term treatment.

research Effects of Sex Steroid Deprivation and Administration on Hair Growth and Skin Sebum Production in Transsexual Males and Females

176 citations , August 2000 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

In this study, cross-sex hormone therapy affected hair growth patterns differently, with estrogen reducing hair growth in male-to-female transsexuals and testosterone increasing it in female-to-male transsexuals; however, male typical hair diameters were not fully reached in the latter group after 12 months.