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

October 2004 in “ Experimental dermatology ”

Christos C. Zouboulis, Klaus Degitz

androgens testosterone dihydrotestosterone sebaceous gland activity hair growth skin barrier maintenance healing processes androgen receptors adrenal glands gonads seborrhea acne hirsutism androgenetic alopecia hyperandrogenism androgen metabolism androgen receptor blockers DHT androgenic alopecia

TLDR Hormones like testosterone affect skin functions and can cause skin issues when in excess; treatments to manage these effects are only somewhat effective.

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.

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