Serum 3α-Androstanediol-Glucuronide Is Decreased in Nonhirsute Women with Acne Vulgaris
December 1996
in “
Fertility and Sterility
”
Studysummary This study found that in women with acne vulgaris, lower serum levels of 3α-androstanediol-glucuronide suggest reduced 5α-reductase activity compared to controls, indicating that 5α-reductase inhibitors may not be effective for acne treatment. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
In a 1996 study involving 20 nonhirsute women with mild or moderate acne vulgaris and 38 control subjects, researchers found that serum levels of 3α-androstanediol-glucuronide (3α-diolG), an indicator of 5α-reductase activity, were decreased in the acne group. No significant differences in other androgens were observed between the two groups. The study concluded that testosterone, rather than its 5α-reduced metabolites, may play a direct role in acne in female patients, suggesting that 5α-reductase inhibitors might not be effective in treating acne. Further clinical research was recommended to confirm these findings.
