The Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With Testosterone Propionate*

Following the report of Hamilton1 of improvement of acne vulgaris in a patient after the use of testosterone, we decided to determine the value of testosterone propionate under controlled conditions. Twenty-two otherwise healthy young white men, ranging in age between 17 and 23 years, were selected for this study. The skin lesions varied from the mildest to the most severe forms. All of the subjects received 3 intramuscular injections† a week without any local treatment, internal medication, or change of diet. Twelve of these patients received injections of the testosterone in sesame oil, whereas the remainder were given only sesame oil. Both groups showed a variety of the different types and degrees of acne vulgaris. A dermatologist examined the patients before and after treatment without knowledge as to which ones were in the control or the treated groups. No local or systemic reactions occurred in either group. No cases of priapism occurred, nor was the incidence of nocturnal emissions or erections inc...