Androgen physiology and the cutaneous pilosebaceous unit.

May 2001 in “ PubMed ”

Mary Gail Mercurio, D S Gogstetter

androgen hormones pilosebaceous unit hair follicles sebaceous glands testosterone dihydrotestosterone DHT 5 alpha-reductase androgen receptors hair growth sebum production androgenetic alopecia hirsutism acne androgens 5-alpha reductase sebum male pattern baldness excessive hair growth

TLDR Androgen hormones affect hair growth and oil production, influencing conditions like hair loss and acne.

The document discussed the role of androgen hormones in the physiology of the pilosebaceous unit, which includes hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5 alpha-reductase, and DHT binds to androgen receptors, influencing hair growth and sebum production. This process was linked to conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, hirsutism, and acne, which can have significant psychosocial effects due to their impact on appearance and gender perceptions.

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