Cutaneous Manifestations of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in Bodybuilders and the Dermatologist's Role in Patient Care

JMIR Dermatol. 2023 Aug 3:6:e43020. doi: 10.2196/43020.

Abstract

Young adults have been increasingly facing pressure to achieve an appealing athletic physique, often influenced by social media influencers on platforms like Instagram. This viewpoint highlights the association between image-centric social media, dissatisfied body image, the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) to achieve desired results, and the overlooked dermatological side effects of AAS, including acne and acne fulminans. We underscore the importance of recognizing acne fulminans as an indicator of possible AAS abuse and encourage dermatologists to actively identify and address AAS use to improve their patients' well-being.

Keywords: acne; acne fulminans; anabolic steroids; anabolic-androgenic steroids; androgenic steroids; athlete; bodybuilder; bodybuilding; cutaneous; dermatologist; dermatology; isotretinoin; skin; social media; sport; steroid.