Association of serum testosterone with acne vulgaris in women- a case control study

ABSTRACT

To find out the association of serum testosterone with acne vulgaris in women. Seventy patients were considered as group A [case - female patients of acne], and 70, age- and sex-matched, healthy subjects were enrolled as group B [controls - females without acne]. Mean serum testosterone levels were measured in case and control groups. The mean serum testosterone level was significantly high among the cases [0.52 ngm/ml] than the control [0.35 ngm/ml]. Data analysis revealed that the percentage of serum testosterone above normal was found to be high among the cases with acne [10%] whereas below normal level of serum testosterone was found among the control i.e. patients without acne and the difference was statistically significant. There is a significant association between serum testosterone and acne vulgaris. Testosterone levels should be measured in patients presenting with acne vulgaris especially in treatment resistant cases. Anti-androgen treatment may be indicated in those cases with elevated testosterone level