6 replies to this topic

[pmak]

Am I correct in saying that testosterone causes acne, and in the absence of testosterone, there would be no acne (pre-pubescent children generally don't get acne, after all)?

[thedak]

thought it was the male sex hormone adrogen, which pre-pube kid dont have either

[Mercer]

testosterone is the male hormone, although females have it too - just not as much. It does tend to aggrivate acne. I doubt a lack of testosterone would get rid of acne all together and even if it did - you really wouldn't want (even if you could) to get rid of testosterone. It's responsible for many good things - most importantly, your sex drive...

[pmak]

> I doubt a lack of testosterone would get rid of acne all together

Judging from this description of what causes acne, I would think that it would:

From Kaiser Permanente's Health Encyclopedia about acne vulgaris:

During puberty, elevated hormone levels stimulate sebaceous glands to produce more oil, also called sebum, which is normally released through the hair shaft to lubricate and protect the skin. Sebum combines with dead cells, forming a plug in the skin pore.

"Elevated hormone levels stimulate sebaceous glands to produce more oil." That implies if the hormone levels weren't elevated, then oil wouldn't be produced.

> and even if it did - you really wouldn't want (even if you could)
> to get rid of testosterone.

I know that I could. Suppression of the male hormones is standard treatment in male-to-female transsexuals, for example.

Some Typical Hormone Regimens for male-to-female transsexuals

That specific hormone regimen wouldn't be good for me, though; it causes breast growth (I don't understand why many small-breasted girls wish for larger breasts; those things seem like a bother).

> It's responsible for many good things - most
> importantly, your sex drive...

In my value system, these are the good things that testosterone has done to me:

* increased strength
* increased height

In my value system, these are the bad things that testosterone has done to me:

* beard growth (I shave it all off anyway; it would be simpler if it didn't grow in the first place)
* body hair growth (I think I look better without body hair, and it itches sometimes)
* increased body odor
* acne, of course
* involuntary erections (in the morning, making it difficult to urinate, and embarassing me in public)
* unsatisfied sex drive

These are bad things that testosterone could theoretically do to me in the future:

* male-pattern baldness
* prostate cancer
* testicle cancer
* unwanted pregnancy

With regard to sex drive, I do have physical urges to have sex, but in reality I might not actually be attracted to anyone (like being the opposite of bisexual).

Given my specific value system (everyone is different, of course), it would seem that the "side effects" from an acne treatment that reduces testosterone may actually be overall beneficial...?

[chicane]

ive been taking avodart for 2 months or so and ive 80% cured my acne and oilyness. my hormones were out of whack and avodart reduced my testosterone production to normal levels.

[pmak]

In my value system, these are the bad things that testosterone has done to me:

I forgot to mention:

* nocturnal emissions

[nofx_gurl_420]

people with acne may be allergic to testoterone according to this http://www.onlineall...rmoneallergies/ I posted this before I don't know how many ppl actually read it so I am posting it agian :-s