Prevalence of Dermatologic Manifestations and Metabolic Biomarkers in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in North China

The study examined 186 women with PCOS and 113 without in North China, finding that hirsutism and acne were the most common dermatologic manifestations in PCOS patients. Hirsutism was strongly correlated with metabolic abnormalities, with affected women showing higher BMI, total testosterone, and FAI levels. Acne was prevalent in PCOS patients but did not correlate with biochemical hyperandrogenemia or metabolic dysfunction. Androgenic alopecia (AGA) was present in 23.1% of PCOS patients but was not linked to metabolic or biochemical abnormalities. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) was less common but associated with higher free testosterone levels and metabolic dysfunction. The study suggests that dermatologic features, particularly hirsutism, can be clinical indicators of PCOS and its associated hormonal and metabolic abnormalities. However, the study's small sample size and measurement limitations indicate a need for further research.