Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and acne in the male patients

Abstract

Androgen excess may have a profound effect on the skin, soma, and psyche of our patients [1]. The role of adrenal androgens in the development of acne is well known and the severity of early acne has been shown to correlate well with pubertal maturation (adrenarche and testis maturation) in young adolescent boys [2]. Although in women acne may present with other signs of hyperandrogenism, such as hirsutism or menstrual irregularities, in men acne may be the only sign of androgen excess. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH, MIM 201910) represents one of the causes of androgen excess, which, in turn, may cause or exacerbate acne via increased seborrhea [3].