Abstract
Background: Acne vulgaris is primarily a disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Four main pathogenic factors are known to lead to its development: follicular epidermal hyperproliferation, excess sebum production, inflammation, and the activity of propionibacterium acnes. Isotretinoin (ISO) is a 13-cis-retinoic acid derivative of vitamin A. It is a highly effective therapy for severe nodulocystic acne.Objective: The aim was to measure serum total, free testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, before and after treatment, in male patients suffering from acne vulgaris and taking ISO as a treatment for their acne.Patients and Methods: The authors included 113 male patients with acne vulgaris. The patients received 0.5░mg/kg/day ISO treatment. Blood samples were collected from the patients for analysis of total, free testosterone, and SHBG levels before and after 6 months of treatment.Results: After 6 months of treatment with ISO, the total lesion count was significantly lower after treatment (88.70±35.04 and 27.80±17.94, respectively, P 0.05), and the mean SHBG serum level was insignificantly higher after treatment (104.367±14.689 and105.533±16.362, respectively, P>0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that ISO treatment led to significant reduction in serum total testosterone levels, which may be beneficial for tackling the pathogenesis of acne
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