A male's normal skin physiologic state differs from that of a female's, which may have implications when choosing acne treatment, according to a recent review.

Transepidermal water loss, pH, and sebum production present differently depending upon the sex of the patient. This difference leads to several underlying conditions that exist in male patients with acne. Moreover, in the male they present at several ages, meaning that more in-depth evaluation might be necessary.

The author concluded that as knowledge of the pathogenesis of acne grows, the differences in skin physiology between the sexes may alter the treatment approach of males with acne.

Citation: McCarty M. Evaluation and management of refractory acne vulgaris in adolescent and adult men. Dermatol Clin. 2016;34(2):203-206. doi:10.1016/j.det.2015.11.007.