Androgen Action on Human Skin – From Basic Research to Clinical Significance

Androgens played a significant role in various functions of human skin, including sebaceous gland growth, hair growth, epidermal barrier maintenance, and wound healing, through binding to nuclear androgen receptors. These effects varied by cell type and location, with major circulating androgens produced in the adrenal glands and gonads, and some synthesized in the skin. Skin cells expressed all necessary enzymes for androgen synthesis, contributing to conditions like seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia. Treatments targeting androgen function and metabolism had only partial effectiveness, focusing on androgen depletion, metabolism inhibition, or receptor blockade.