THE LOCAL ACTION OF ADRENOCORTICAL STEROIDS ON EPIDERMIS AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE OF THE SKIN1

Abstract
Alcoholic solns. of adrenocortical extract, cortisone and compound F were applied daily to the skin of 43 Wistar rats. At intervals, skin biopsies were taken. Histologic examination showed changes only in the areas to which the hormones were applied. The changes consisted of thinning of the epidermis, reduced size of the sebaceous glands, loss of substance from the collagenous fibers causing thinning of the dermis, and decreased fibroblasts in the connective tissue. When the treatment was continued for 180 days the skin became refractory to the action of the hormone and the growth of hair was resumed.