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Cited by 379Estrogen and related hormone effectsHormonal and reproductive studiesHair Growth and Disorders

Sexual hormones in human skin

Open access
Zouboulis, C., Chen, W.-C., Thornton, M., Qin, K., Rosenfield, R.·2007·Hormone and Metabolic Research
DOI 10.1055/s-2007-961807
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Abstract

The skin locally synthesizes significant amounts of sexual hormones with intracrine or paracrine actions. The local level of each sexual steroid depends upon the expression of each of the androgen- and estrogen-synthesizing enzymes in each cell type, with sebaceous glands and sweat glands being the major contributors. Sebocytes express very little of the key enzyme, cytochrome P450c17, necessary for synthesis of the androgenic prohormones dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione, however, these prohormones can be converted by sebocytes and sweat glands, and probably also by dermal papilla cells, into more potent androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Five major enzymes are involved in the activation and deactivation of androgens in skin. Androgens affect several functions of human skin, such as sebaceous gland growth and differentiation, hair growth, epidermal barrier homeostasis and wound healing. Their effects are mediated by binding to the nuclear androgen receptor. Changes of isoenzyme and/or androgen receptor levels may have important implications in the development of hyperandrogenism and the associated skin diseases such as acne, seborrhoea, hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia. On the other hand, estrogens have been implicated in skin aging, pigmentation, hair growth, sebum production and skin cancer. Estrogens exert their actions through intracellular receptors or via cell surface receptors, which activate specific second messenger signaling pathways. Recent studies suggest specific site-related distribution of ERalpha and ERbeta in human skin. In contrast, progestins play no role in the pathogenesis of skin disorders. However, they play a major role in the treatment of hirsutism and acne vulgaris, where they are prescribed as components of estrogen-progestin combination pills and as anti-androgens. These combinations enhance gonadotropin suppression of ovarian androgen production. Estrogen-progestin treatment can reduce the need for shaving by half and arrest progression of hirsutism of various etiologies, but do not necessarily reverse it. However, they reliably reduce acne. Cyproterone acetate and spironolactone are similarly effective as anti-androgens in reducing hirsutism, although there is wide variability in individual responses.

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  • One of the major factors in human sebaceous lipogenesis is the hormonal changes taking place at puberty.

    “One of the major factors in humans are the hormonal changes taking place at puberty.67”

    From Sebaceous-immunobiology is orchestrated by sebum lipids (2017) · cites this paper as [67]

  • DHT is mainly synthesized in peripheral tissues, including skin.

    “The most potent androgen, dehydrotestosterone (DHT), is mainly synthesized in peripheral tissues, including skin [74].”

    From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [74]

  • Greater activity of 17βHSD types 3 and 5 in facial sebaceous glands than in non-acne-prone areas suggests more potent in situ androgen formation in facial skin.

    “Greater activity of the 17βHSD types 3 and 5 was detected in sebaceous glands of facial skin than in other, non-acne prone skin areas, suggesting the in situ more potent androgen formation in these areas [74, 101].”

    From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [74]

  • Strong expression of steroid sulfatase is detected in sebaceous glands of acne lesions.

    “Strong expression of steroid sulfatase was detected in sebaceous glands of acne lesions [74].”

    From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [74]

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Research works printed but not linked: 17

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  2. Hoppe U , Holterhus PM , Wunsch L , Jocham D , Drechsler T , Thiele S , Marschke C , Hiort O : Tissue-specifi c transcription profi les of sex ster- oid biosynthesis enzymes and the androgen receptor . J Mol Med 2006 ; 84 : 651 -659
  3. Chen W , Zouboulis CC , Fritsch M , Blume-Peytavi U , Kodelja V , Goerdt S , Luu-The V , Orfanos CE : Evidence of heterogeneity and quantitative differences of the type1 5 -reductase expression in cultured human skin cells -First evidence of its presence in melanocytes . J Invest Dermatol 1998 ; 110 : 84 -89
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  8. Adler YD , Orfanos CE , Zouboulis CC : HAIRAN syndrome: a fi fth variant of SAHA syndrome (abstract) . Horm Res 2000 ; 53 : 94
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  10. Thornton MJ , Taylor AH , Mulligan K , Al-Azzawi F , Lyon CC , O ' Driscoll JB , Messenger AG : The distribution of estrogen receptor beta (ER ) is distinct to that of ER alpha and the androgen receptor in human skin and the pilosebaceous unit . J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 2003 ; 8 : 100 -103 113
  11. Haczynski J , Tarkowski R , Jarzabek K , Slomczynska M , Wolczynski S , Magoffi n DA , Jakowicki J , Jakimiuk AJ : Human cultured skin fi brob- lasts express estrogen receptor alpha and beta . Int J Mol Med 2002 ; 10 : 149 -153 120
  12. Conrad F , Paus R : strogene und der Haarfollikel . J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2004 ; 2 : 412 -423 122
  13. Ohnemus U , Uenalan M , Conrad F , Handjiski B , Mecklenburg L , Naka- mura M , Inzunza J , Gustafsson JA , Paus R : Hair cycle control by estro- gens: Catagen induction via ER(alpha) is checked by ER(beta) signalling . Endocrinology 2005 ; 145 : 1214 -1225 124
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  15. Taylor AH , Thornton MJ , Messenger AG , Tobin DJ : Human epidermal melanocytes express the androgen receptor and both estrogen receptors (ER ) and (ER ) in situ . J Invest Dermatol 2002 ; 119 : 801 143
  16. Meskiri AN , Thornton MJ , Tobin DJ Induction of pigmentation up regulates ERalpha and aromatase in epidermal melanocytes and melanoma cells http:/www.endocrine-abstracts.org 196th Meeting of the Society for Endocrinology, London, UK 7 -9 November 2005, Endocrine Abstracts 2005 ; 10 : 78 147
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Authors
Zouboulis, C., Chen, W.-C., Thornton, M., Qin, K., & Rosenfield, R.
Affiliations
  • Städtisches Klinikum Dessau (DE)
  • Chang Gung University (TW)
  • University of Bradford (GB)
  • University of Chicago (US)
ORCID
Venue
Hormone and Metabolic Research
Publisher
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Published
2007-02
Volume
39
Issue
2
Pages
85-95
ISSN
  • 0018-5043 (ISSN-L)
  • 1439-4286
DOI
10.1055/s-2007-961807
OpenAlex
W2087540265
Cited by
379
References
172
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 20
FWCI
2.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hormone and Metabolic Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (NGFN-2)
  • National Institutes of Health (5k08hd043279-05)
  • U.S. Public Health Service (U54-041859)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR-00055)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K08-HD043279)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Hair Growth and Disorders
Keywords
androgens, estrogen, progestins, steroidogenesis, sebocytes, sweat glands, dermal papilla cells, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, hyperandrogenism, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, androgenetic alopecia, skin aging, androgen receptor antagonists, spironolactone, estrogen-progestin combination therapy
MeSH terms
Aromatase, Eccrine Glands, Humans, Hypogonadism, Melanocytes, Melanoma, Receptors, Androgen, Sebaceous Glands, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Skin, Skin Diseases, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Keratinocytes, Hair Follicle

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