Sex Hormones and Acne: The Role of the Skin as an Endocrine Organ

March 2017 in “ Clinics in dermatology ”

Jun Qiang, Tao Tao, Tingting Hu, Ayşe Serap Karadağ, Safaa Al-Khuzaei, WenChieh Chen

sex hormones androgens acne sebaceous gland steroid synthesis enzymes cholesterol dihydrotestosterone DHT sebocyte differentiation sebum production comedogenesis estrogen progesterone endocrinologic disorders polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS sex steroids inflammation

TLDR Sex hormones, especially androgens, play a key role in causing acne.

The document discussed the role of sex hormones, particularly androgens, in the pathogenesis of acne. It highlighted that the sebaceous gland is a key site for steroid synthesis and is equipped with the necessary enzymes for converting cholesterol to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). While significant progress had been made in understanding how androgens affect sebocyte differentiation and sebum production, the mechanisms behind comedogenesis and the roles of estrogen and progesterone remained less clear. The review also noted the association of acne with endocrinologic disorders like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and emphasized the need for further research on the interaction between sex steroids and inflammation in acne.

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