The Dermatologic Manifestation of Hyperandrogenism: A Retrospective Chart Review
February 2011
in “
Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology
”
TLDR Most women with hyperandrogenism first show acne, and skin conditions like hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans are good indicators of the condition.
In a retrospective chart review aimed at evaluating the cutaneous features and metabolic findings in women with hyperandrogenism, it was found that the most common skin manifestation at first presentation was acne, affecting 88% of patients, with 62% classified as moderate to severe. Other frequent dermatologic presentations included hirsutism (58%), acanthosis nigricans (53%), androgenic alopecia (32%), and skin tags (31%). The most common systemic sign was oligomenorrhea, occurring in 74% of the women surveyed. The study also identified acanthosis nigricans and hirsutism as useful clinical markers for hyperandrogenism, while androgenic alopecia was not. The free androgen index was determined to be a strong marker of hyperandrogenism. This study provided insights into the diverse manifestations of hyperandrogenism in women.
