Effects of Androgens on the Skin: Therapeutic Implications

This 1976 review discussed the effects of androgens on the skin, focusing on conditions like hirsutism and acne in women. It explained that acne and hirsutism could occur independently or together, with sebaceous glands and hair follicles playing key roles. The review highlighted that sebaceous glands desquamate every 7.4 days and that acne involves comedones and pustules due to bacterial activity. In hirsutism, the skin can synthesize testosterone, which becomes active after being converted to 5alpha-dehydrotestosterone, with elevated 5alpha-steroid-reductase in affected women. Treatment options varied based on the condition's cause, including surgery, hormone therapy, diet, and antiandrogens. The authors favored a combination of estrogen and progestagens, along with symptomatic treatments like antibacterial drugs.