TLDR Hormone therapy in transgender women can affect hair growth and acne, and there are specific skin issues related to gender-affirming surgery, but more research is needed on their dermatological health.
The document reviews dermatologic conditions in transgender women, particularly those undergoing hormone therapy and surgical transition. It reports that hormone therapy can lead to changes in hair growth, improvement in androgenic alopecia, and reduced acne. Complications associated with neovaginas, such as stenosis and intravaginal hairballs, are discussed, along with the microbiology of neovaginas and the risk of neovaginal cancer, for which routine screening is recommended. The review also mentions benign neovaginal diseases and does not find an increased skin cancer risk due to estrogen therapy. Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been reported in transgender women following estrogen therapy, with some cases showing severe manifestations, while one case improved after testosterone treatment. The use of illegal black market injectables for body contouring can lead to serious complications. The document concludes that more research is needed to understand dermatological issues in transgender patients, as current knowledge is mainly limited to changes in acne, hair distribution, and the consequences of gender-affirming surgery.
23 citations,
January 2016 in “Transgender health” Hormone therapy with estradiol and spironolactone can regrow scalp hair in transgender women by lowering testosterone to female levels.
110 citations,
January 2014 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Testosterone treatment in trans men increases body and facial hair and may lead to hair loss over time, but severe skin issues are rare.
66 citations,
October 2013 in “Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity” The conclusion is that published guidelines are improving transgender medical care, but more research and education in transgender medicine are needed.
150 citations,
April 2013 in “Dermato-endocrinology” Estrogen therapy can reduce skin aging but has cancer risks.
18 citations,
August 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Estrogen therapy helped regrow hair in a bald man.
209 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Androgens can both increase and decrease hair growth in different parts of the body.
20 citations,
April 2006 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Antiandrogen therapies are beneficial for treating skin and hair conditions related to androgen levels.
50 citations,
May 2004 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” Estrogens generally inhibit hair growth and improve skin quality, but their exact effects on hair follicles are complex and not fully understood.
January 2016 in “Dermatology Online Journal” Hormonal therapy changes skin and hair in transgender patients, who need better researched dermatologic care.
2295 citations,
August 2012 in “The international journal of transgenderism/International journal of transgenderism” The guidelines recommend informed consent for gender-affirming treatments and stress the importance of personalized, culturally sensitive care for transgender individuals.
21 citations,
March 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The review highlights the need for more research on transgender dermatology, the role of dermatologists in gender affirmation, and the effects of hormone therapy on skin and hair.
21 citations,
April 2019 in “Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America” Transgender patients need proper skin care, especially when undergoing hormone treatments, to manage issues like acne and hair loss.
19 citations,
February 2012 in “International Journal of Urology” In Japan, sex reassignment surgery for gender identity disorder faces challenges and needs better medical support and education.
