[An effective topical antiandrogen--17 alpha-propylmesterolone--in acne]

17 alpha-Propylmesterolon, a new topically active antiandrogen, was administered to 25 patients with papulopustular or comedo acne and severe seborrhoea. The patients were supplied with a 3% solution of 17 alpha-propylmesterolone in 70% alcohol and were advised to apply it to the face twice daily for a mean duration of 14 weeks. Clinical follow-ups and thin-layer-chromatography determination of the sebum secretion rate (SER) and the lipid fractions were performed monthly. At the end of the treatment period 72% of the patients had improved. Comedo acne was reduced by 2 grades, papulopustular acne by 1.8 grade. The mean reduction of seborrhoea was 2 grades. SER was reduced in 62.5% of the patients to 76.4 +/- 8.8% of pretreatment values. In addition to sebaceous gland lipids, epidermal lipids were also inhibited effectively. This finding is in accordance with the marked reduction of comedones. Thus, in addition to sebaceous gland inhibition, epidermal structures may also be the target of the antiandrogen.