Androgens and ageing of the skin

Abstract

This study reviews current advances in our understanding of the role of androgens in the initiation of skin ageing. Skin and its appendages being a steroidogenic tissue itself can be affected to a large extent by sex steroids. Amongst them, androgens display a distinguished role. They modulate epidermal and dermal thickness as proven in a variety of studies measuring gender-specific differences. With advanced age, changes in the circulating androgen levels may alter not only the morphology but also key functions of the skin such as epidermal barrier homeostasis and wound healing, sebaceous gland growth and differentiation and hair growth. Consequently, skin becomes susceptible to infections and several disease states. Androgen treatment has been proposed to be an effective way to reverse the age-associated deterioration of skin; however, further research is needed to translate current findings to clinically significant diagnostic and therapeutic applications.