Acne and serum androgens during puberty.

Mean concentrations of testosterone in sera collected from pubertal boys at the onset of acne were significantly higher than levels from stage-matched control pubertal boys who did not develop acne (P less than .0025). This longitudinal study indicated that acne occurred when other androgen-produced pubertal changes began. Androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone levels did not differ between the two groups.