CORRELATION OF CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS WITH HORMONAL PROFILE IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age and is frequently associated with various cutaneous manifestations resulting from hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. Dermatological features such as hirsutism, acne, acanthosis nigricans, and androgenetic alopecia may serve as important clinical indicators of underlying hormonal abnormalities. Understanding the relationship between these manifestations and hormonal profiles can facilitate early diagnosis and management of PCOS.

Aim To evaluate the correlation between cutaneous manifestations and hormonal profile in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Materials and Methods This hospital-based cross-sectional observational study included 100 women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria. Detailed demographic, clinical, and dermatological evaluations were performed. Cutaneous manifestations including hirsutism, acne vulgaris, acanthosis nigricans, androgenetic alopecia, seborrhea, skin tags, and other findings were documented. Hormonal assessment included measurement of total testosterone, free testosterone, DHEAS, LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, prolactin, TSH, SHBG, and fasting insulin levels. Correlation between dermatological manifestations and hormonal parameters was analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results The majority of participants belonged to the 21–25 years age group (42.0%), and 76.0% were either overweight or obese. Hirsutism was the most common cutaneous manifestation (72.0%), followed by acne vulgaris (65.0%), acanthosis nigricans (58.0%), seborrhea (47.0%), and androgenetic alopecia (34.0%). Mean total testosterone and free testosterone levels were 78.34 ± 26.15 ng/dL and 5.82 ± 2.31 pg/mL, respectively. Hirsutism severity showed significant positive correlations with total testosterone (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and free testosterone (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Acne severity was significantly associated with total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHEAS levels. Acanthosis nigricans demonstrated a strong positive correlation with fasting insulin levels (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Women with hirsutism had significantly higher androgen levels and lower SHBG levels compared to those without hirsutism.

Conclusion Cutaneous manifestations are highly prevalent in women with PCOS and demonstrate significant correlations with hormonal and metabolic abnormalities. Hirsutism, acne, and androgenetic alopecia were primarily associated with hyperandrogenism, whereas acanthosis nigricans was strongly linked to insulin resistance. Dermatological evaluation can serve as an important clinical tool for identifying underlying endocrine dysfunction and facilitating early diagnosis and comprehensive management of PCOS.