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Dijkstra AC,  et al

Testosterone metabolism was investigated in fractions of human skin, enriched in epidermis, dermis, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands, by histologic sectioning of skin punch biopsies, and the results were compared with two culturable skin cells, …snip… In the deeper skin layers the formation of androstenedione was markedly reduced, whereas the formation of 5 alpha-reduced metabolites was highly increased, with a maximum in the skin fractions containing large sebaceous glands.  …snip…. The present approach, allowing the comparison of testosterone metabolism in different substructures of the same skin biopsy provides new evidence that the high 5 alpha-reductase activity in the specific skin fractions must be mainly ascribed to the sebaceous glands. These results render a previous hypothesis, stating that the elevated level of 5 alpha-reductase and subsequent formation of dihydrotestosterone in male pattern hair loss and acne (usually accompanied by seborrhea) could therefore simply be the consequence of sebaceous gland enlargement, much stronger.

Topical minoxidil therapy in hereditary androgenetic alopecia.

De Villez RL.

A randomized double-blind trial of topical minoxidil therapy was carried out on 56 patients with hereditary male pattern baldness ( pattern hair loss ). The subjects selected were required to have a discernible balding patch, a minimum of 2.5 cm in diameter on the vertex of the head where the hairs could be counted and photographed. Minoxidil, 1.0 mL, was applied twice a day to the scalp beginning at the balding vertex and spreading centrifugally around the scalp. Cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth was achieved in 18 patients (32%). The most notable indicators for regrowth of hair were the number of indeterminate hairs initially present, the duration of baldness, and the size of the balding area. No serious systemic or cutaneous side effects were noted.