Is Acne a Sign of Androgen Excess Disorder or Not?

April 2017 in “ European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology ”

Gulsum Uysal, Yılmaz Şahin, Kursad Unluhizarci, Ayten Ferahbaş, Semih Uludağ, Ercan Aygen, Fahrettin Kelestimur

acne androgen excess disorder hyperandrogenemia PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome ESHRE ASRM androgen hormones

TLDR Acne is an important sign of androgen excess disorders in women.

The 2017 study investigated the link between acne and androgen excess disorders in 207 women aged 18-45 with acne. It found that 72% of these women had clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenemia, with PCOS being the most common cause. Despite previous suggestions by the ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored third PCOS Consensus Workshop Group to not consider acne as evidence of hyperandrogenemia, the study concluded that acne is indeed an important sign of androgen excess disorders. The study highlighted that traditional acne treatments often fail, suggesting that androgen excess disorders should be considered in women with acne to avoid misclassification and improve treatment outcomes.

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9 / 9 results

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3 / 3 results

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