Acne: endocrinologic aspects.

Acne is dependent for its development on several factors, one of which is hormonal. The principal and possibly sole mechanistic link between hormones and acne is sebum, the secretory product of the sebaceous glands which is highly androgen-sensitive. Some but not all, patients with acne can be shown to have systemic androgen abnormalities. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that androgens are metabolized abnormally in the skin, possibly resulting in excessive sebaceous gland secretion. Systemic endocrine therapy of acne is designed to reduce the androgenic stimulation of the sebaceous gland. Such treatment includes the peroral cyclic administration of estrogen for ovarian inhibition and the use of low-dosage glucocorticoid for adrenocortical androgen suppression. Combined estrogen-glucocorticoid treatment induces the most telling effect in reducing sebaceous gland activity.