Androgens
The androgens are the male sex hormones. They are responsible for the training and development of the secondary male sex characteristics and for the imprinting of the psychic male sex. They control the maturation of sperm and the activity of the gland of the genital tract and have anabolic effect - stimulation of protein synthesis. Androgens, especially testosterone, are also produced in the female organism, in the adrenal cortex, but in much smaller amounts.
The androgen testosterone and the resulting active form dihydrotestosterone stimulate the growth and productivity of the sebaceous glands in a gender-unspecific way. Excessive sebum production is called seborrhoea. In addition, androgens can unfavourably influence maturation processes of the horny cells in the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland hair follicle apparatus. The result is an overshooting cornification. If both factors meet, comedones, also called blackheads, can form as the first signs of acne.