Androgen action on human skin – from basic research to clinical significance
October 2004
in “Experimental dermatology”
TLDR Hormones like testosterone affect skin functions and can cause skin issues when in excess; treatments to manage these effects are only somewhat effective.
The document from 2004 discusses how androgens, which are hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, influence various skin functions including sebaceous gland activity, hair growth, skin barrier maintenance, and healing processes. These effects are due to androgens binding to specific receptors within skin cells. The production of androgens occurs in both the adrenal glands and gonads, with some androgens also being synthesized directly in the skin. Skin cells contain all the necessary enzymes to produce androgens independently, which can lead to conditions like seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia when there is an excess of androgens (hyperandrogenism). Treatments for these androgen-related skin disorders have focused on reducing androgen levels, inhibiting their metabolism, or blocking their receptors, but these approaches have only been partially effective.
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