Testosterone Metabolism in the Skin

The document reviews the current understanding, as of 1975, of how testosterone is metabolized in human skin and discusses the significance of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the development of androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss), acne vulgaris, and idiopathic hirsutism (excessive hair growth). It proposes that an increased formation of DHT at specific skin sites during certain ages may lead to both normal sexual development and androgen-dependent skin disorders. The paper also considers the potential for treating these conditions with antiandrogens, which were recent developments at the time.