Insulin Sensitivity, Androgens, and Isotretinoin Therapy in Women with Severe Acne

    November 2012 in “ Journal of Dermatological Treatment ”
    Fatma Çetinözman, Duygu Yazgan Aksoy, Gonca Elçin, Bülent Yıldız
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    TLDR Isotretinoin improves severe acne without changing androgen or insulin levels but may increase body weight and triglycerides.
    The study examined 26 women with severe acne, comparing them to 21 healthy controls to assess the impact of isotretinoin therapy on insulin sensitivity and androgen levels. Initially, no significant differences were found in androgen levels or insulin sensitivity between the two groups. After at least 6 months of isotretinoin treatment, the patients showed an increase in BMI and triglyceride levels, but no changes in androgen levels or insulin sensitivity. The study concluded that severe acne is not linked to hyperandrogenemia or insulin resistance, and isotretinoin therapy does not alter serum androgens or insulin sensitivity, although it may lead to increased body weight and triglycerides. The findings suggest that routine androgen measurement in women with severe acne may be unnecessary in the absence of other hyperandrogenism symptoms, and that polycystic ovary (PCO) is not more common in those with severe acne. The study also noted that isotretinoin effectively improved acne without affecting androgen or insulin levels.
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