[Sex hormones and the skin]

The relationship between sex hormones and the skin is increasingly considered to be very important. The skin has appropriately been called "A peripheral endocrine gland". In this review some aspects of the cutaneous metabolism of oestrogens, progestogens and particularly androgens are analyzed. Production of skin collagen is markedly enhanced by oestrogens. Progestogens with strong androgenic activity and especially androgens have a powerful stimulating action on all skin elements particularly the epidermis and the dermis the sebaceous glands and the hair. The skin manifestations of hyperandrogenism and disturbances of reproductive functions such as anovulation, oligoamenorrhoea and polycystic ovarian disease are usually the consequences of three main aetiopathogenic factors: the first is an abnormality of GnRH pulsatility related to central nervous system dysfunction and seemingly mediated by an increase in beta Endorphin, possibly related to some extent to changes in body weight and hyperinsulinism. The second aetiopathogenic approach is hyperaestronaemia secondary to obesity. Finally adrenal hyperandrogenism caused by different types of congenital adrenal hyperplasia or by increased sensitivity to ACTH may be implicated in these various clinical manifestations.