The Effect of Estrogen and Androgen on the Sebaceous Gland Turnover Time

The effect of estrogens on sebaceous gland cell turnover time was measured in four adult male volunteers administered 1mg of ethinyl estradiol daily for six weeks. Two of the subjects were continued on ethinyl estradiol for an additional six weeks during which time 100mg of methyl testosterone was administered orally per day together with the estrogen. Biopsies were obtained from the non-hairy area of the cheek 40 minutes subsequent to the intradermal injection of 10 microcuries of tritiated thymidine. During the administration of 1mg of ethinyl estradiol, a decrease of approximately 50% in the labeling index of the human sebaceous gland and its germinative layer was observed. When 100mg of methyl testosterone was administered concomitantly with the estrogen, the labeling indices returned toward normal. The changes in the labeling indices were accompanied by corresponding changes in sebum production.