Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 2023, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (9): 882-885.doi: 10.35541/cjd.20210024

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Anti-androgen drugs in the treatment of skin diseases

Sun Xiaojie, Liu Yi   

  1. Clinical Trial and Cosmetics Testing Center, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China
  • Received:2021-01-08 Revised:2021-12-30 Online:2023-09-15 Published:2023-09-07
  • Contact: Liu Yi E-mail:liuyi@pumcderm.cams.cn

Abstract: 【Abstract】 Androgens are important sex hormones in the body, and are involved in the occurrence and development of various skin diseases, such as acne, androgenetic alopecia, hirsutism. Anti-androgen drugs can act on different sites in the androgen synthesis and functional pathways to antagonize the effects of androgens, and can be used in the alleviation and treatment of related diseases. In recent years, some research progress has been made in the treatment of skin diseases with anti-androgen drugs. For example, clascoterone is a first-in-class topical drug in the treatment of acne in the last 40 years, dutasteride can be applied in male patients aged over 20 years with androgenetic alopecia, and topical finasteride is markedly effective for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, as well as idiopathic hirsutism in females. This review summarizes research progress in anti-androgen drugs in the treatment of skin diseases in recent years.

Key words: Androgen antagonists, Skin diseases, Therapy, Alopecia, Hirsutism, Acne