Abstract:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and total serum testosterone (TST) in women with post-adolescent acne and their relationship to severity of acne and clinical markers of androgenicity. Methods: Two hundred forty women with post-adolescent acne (PAA), 132 women with late- onset acne (LOA) and 108 women with persistent acne (PA) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. All patients were examined clinically and by ultrasound for evidence of polycystic ovaries (PCO), and serum DHEA-S and TST levels were measured. Results: The results showed that there was an excess in androgens (DHEA-S) and TST levels. Serum androgens level were significantly correlated to the severity of PAA. In addition, clinical markers of androgenicity were frequently observed in women with PAA. Conclusion: There is an increased level of circulating androgens in significant proportion of women with PAA and it seems that hyperandrogenism appears to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of acne. In addition, there was a direct correlation between severity of acne and androgen levels suggesting that both ovarian and adrenal abnormalities are common at this patients group.

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