Exclusive Androgenic Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Sebaceous Glands of Rat Skin

The study conducted on ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats demonstrated that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has an androgenic effect on sebaceous glands. DHEA was applied to the rats at a dose of 30 mg twice daily for periods of 3, 6, and 12 months. The presence of hyperplasia in the sebaceous glands was noted, which was not increased with longer administration. The androgenic action of DHEA was confirmed by the prevention of these changes with the antiandrogen Flutamide, while the antiestrogen EM-800 had no effect. The study, which included eight animals per experimental group, concluded that DHEA's effects on the skin are due to its local conversion to androgens, and that estrogens do not derive from DHEA in rat skin. This suggests potential treatments for skin conditions could target intracrine androgen formation.