Since the skin and its appendages are androgen-dependent, male hypogonadism
can be associated with dermatologically relevent lesions. The skin surface
of hypogonadal patients is thin and shows increased wrinkles. In cases of
prepubertal hypogonadism, severe acne does not occur. In contrast, patients
may suffer from sebostasis due to missing stimulation of the sebaceous gla
nds. The genital skin does not show pigmentation,which normaly develops dur
ing puberty; the integument is pale. Hair growth on breast, pubia, axilla,
face and integument is reduced; patients do not present with typical androg
enetic alopecia. In addition to these features, dermatological diseases cau
sed by treatment of the hypogonadism or drug-induced skin reactions have to
be considered. While drug reactions to oral or intramuscular androgens or
gonadotropins are rare, irritative or allergic skin lesions are observed fr
equently, especially in cases of non-scrotal transdermal therapeutic system
s with testosterone. A variety of syndromes include dermatological symptoms
associated with male hypogonadism; however, the prevalence of these syndro
mes is low.