The Effect of the Antiandrogen 11α-Hydroxyprogesterone on Sebum Production and Cholesterol Concentration of Sebum

In the 1982 study by Tamm et al., the synthetic antiandrogen 11α-hydroxyprogesterone (11-OHP) was found to significantly reduce sebum production and cholesterol concentration in sebum when topically applied. Short-term experiments on normal male subjects showed reduced sebum production on the forehead and a greater decrease in sebum cholesterol concentration. Long-term studies on patients with seborrhoea and male-pattern alopecia showed a marked reduction in hair greasiness and a more pronounced decrease in sebum cholesterol than in total sebum production. The study involved 30 individuals (21 males and 9 females) across three groups: Group I (5 normal males using a vehicle solution), Group II (11 normal males using a 1% solution of 11-OHP), and Group III (9 females and 5 males with androgenic alopecia treated with a 0.5% solution of 11-OHP for 2 years 5 months to 4 years). The study concluded that 11-OHP is an effective topical inhibitor of sebum production and may help slow the progression of male-pattern alopecia without observed side effects.