Abstract
It is well known that the pilosebaceous unit is an elective androgen target tissue. In some areas of the skin, pilosebaceous units respond to androgens by forming sexual hair follicles, whereas in other areas they respond by forming sebaceous glands. Excessive androgen levels as well as their excessive local action on pilosebaceous units in different areas of the body may lead to different skin androgen-related disorders: hirsutism, acne, and androgenetic alopecia.
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Abbreviations
- 17β-HSD:
-
17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
- 3β-HSD:
-
3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
- AGA:
-
Androgenetic alopecia
- DHEAS:
-
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
- DHT:
-
Dihydrotestosterone
- DHT:
-
Dihydrotestosterone
- FPHL:
-
Female pattern hair loss
- MPHL:
-
Male pattern hair loss
- OC:
-
Oral contraceptives
- PCOS:
-
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- PSA:
-
Prostate-specific antigen
- SHBG:
-
Sex hormone-binding globulin
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Lotti, F., Maggi, M. (2015). Hormonal Treatment for Skin Androgen-Related Disorders. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_142
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