Androgens in Women: Androgen mediated skin disease and patient evaluation (Part I)

Androgens are produced throughout the body in steroid-producing organs, such as the adrenal glands and ovaries, as well as in other tissues, like the skin. Several androgens are found normally in women, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and androstenedione. These androgens are essential in the development of several common cutaneous conditions in women, including acne, hirsutism, and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) – androgen mediated cutaneous disorders (AMCDs).