Is Finasteride Also Effective for Acne Vulgaris?

The document discusses the potential of finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, in treating Acne vulgaris due to its known effect on androgen metabolism. Androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Acne vulgaris, and finasteride is known to inhibit the 5α-reductase type II isoenzyme, which is involved in the conversion of testosterone to DHT. However, the type I isoenzyme, which is dominant in the sebaceous glands and potentially comedogenic cells of the infrainfundibulum, is only minimally inhibited by finasteride. Therefore, the document concludes that finasteride therapy is not expected to have positive effects on Acne vulgaris. It also mentions ongoing preclinical studies with type I 5α-reductase inhibitors, which could potentially lead to a new class of acne medications in the future.