Summary
An increase of sebum excretion rate (SER) is frequently observed in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD). Some authors attribute it to the hyperactivity of the parasympathetic system, while others consider the possible action of androgens or of MSH-hormone.
The aim of our study was to verify and quantify SER in 70 parkinsonian patients and compare it with SER in 60 normal subjects.
We found higher values of SER in male subjects, both in normal and in parkinsonian patients. The highest rate of excretion was observed in parkinsonian males, in agreement with the possible main role of androgens or testosterone in sebum excretion, while the phenomenon did not appear to be related to abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system.
The association of PD and sex hormones might therefore be crucial for the developing of seborrhea.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agache P, Blanc D (1982) Current status in sebum knowledge. Int J Derm 21: 304–315
Aminoff MJ, Wilcox CS (1971) Assessment of autonomic function in patients with a Parkinsonian Syndrome. Br Med J 4: 80–84
Burton JL, Shuster S (1970) Effect of L-dopa on seborrhea of parkinsonism. Lancet ii: 19–20
Burton JL, Cunliffe WJ, Shuster S (1970) Increased sebum excretion in patients with breast cancer. Br Med J 1: 665
Burton JL, Cunliffe WJ, Stafford I, etal (1971) The prevalence of acne vulgaris in adolescence. Br J Dermatol 85: 119
Burton JL, Libman LJ, Cunliffe WJ, et al (1972) Sebum excretion in acromegaly. Br Med J 1: 406
Burton JL, Cartlidge M, Cartlidge NEF, Shuster S (1973) Sebum excretion in Parkinsonism. Br J Dermatol 88: 263–266
Cohn T (1920) Encephalitis ohne lethargic wahrend der grippcepidemie. Zent Bl Neurol 38: 260–264
Darley CR, Kirby JDT, Besser JM, et al (1980) Serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and serum prolactin in acne vulgaris. J Invest Dermatol 74: 452
Fahn S, Elton RL and Members of the UPDRS Development Committee (1987) Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. In: Fahn S, Marsden CD, Calne DB, Goldstein M (eds) Recent developments in Parkinson's disease, vol 2. Macmillan Health Care Information, Florham Park, NJ, pp 153–164
Franceschi M, Camerlingo M, Perego L, Bottacchi E, Truci G, Mamoli A (1988) Tubero-infundibular dopaminergic function in Parkinson's disease. Eur Neurol 28: 117–119
Goolamali SK, Shuster S (1975) A sebotrophic stimulus in benign and malignant breast disease. Lancet i: 1975
Goolamali SK, Burton JL, Shuster S (1973) Sebum excretion in hypopituitarism. Br J Dermatol 89: 21
Harville DD, Appenzeller O (1978) A new approach to the reduction of sebum secretion. Arch Dermatol 103: 492
Hughes AJ, Daniel SE, Kilford L, Lees AJ (1992) Accuracy of clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a clinico-pathological study of 100 cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 55: 181–184
Krestin D (1927) The seborrheic facies as a manifestation of postencephalitic parkinsonism and allied disorders. Q J Med 21: 177–186
Martignoni E, Pacchetti C, Godi L, Micieli G, Nappi G (1995a) Autonomic disorders in Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm 45: 11–19
Martignoni E, Pacchetti C, Micieli G, Nappi G (1995b) Autonomic disorders in Parkinson's disease and Shy-Drager syndrome. In: Korczyn A (ed) Handbook of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Marcel Dekker, New York Basel Hong Kong, pp 235–252
Martignoni E, Horowski R, Liuzzi A, Costa A, Dallabonzana D, Cozzi R, Attanasio R, Rainer E, Nappi G (1996) Effects of terguride on anteriory pituitary function in parkinsonian patients treated with L-dopa: a double-blind study versus placebo. Clin Neuropharmacol 19: 72–80
Matzuk MM, Saper CB (1985) Preservation of hypotalamic dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. Ann Neurol 18: 552–555
Pacchetti C, Sibilla L, Bruggi P, Cavallini A, Micieli G, Martignoni E, Nappi G (1990) Autonomic disturbances in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple System Atrophy: clinical aspects. Funct Neurol 4: 49–56
Pierard GE (1987) Rate and topography of follicolar sebum excretion. Dermatologica 175: 280–283
Plewig G, Kligman AM (1978) Proliferative activity of the sebaceous glands of the aged. J Invest Dermatol 70: 314
Plewig G, Fulton JE, Braun-Falco O (1971) Proliferative cells in the human sebaceous gland. Acta Dermatol Venereol 51: 413
Pochi PE, Strauss JS (1969) Sebaceous gland response in man to adminstration of testosterone C4, androstenedione and dehydroisoandrosterone. J Invest Dermatol 52: 32–36
Pochi PE, Strauss JS (1974) Endocrinologic control of the development and activity of the human sebaceous gland. J Invest Dermatol 62: 191–201
Pochi PE, Strauss JS, Mescon H (1974) Sebum production and fractional 17-ketosteroid excretion in parkinsonism. J Invest Dermatol 62: 191–202
Rainero I, Kaye A, May C, Durso R, Katz D, Albert ML, Wolfe N, Pinessi L, Friedland RP, Papoport SI (1988) Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormonelike immunoreactivity is increased in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease. Arch Neurol 45: 1224–1227
Sandyk R (1989) Melanocyte stimulating hormone in tardive dyskinesia. Biol Psychiatry 26: 209–220
Shuster S, Thody AJ (1974) The control and measurement of sebum secretion. Invest Dermatol 62: 172–190
Shuster JS, Thody AJ, Goolamali SK, Burton JL, Plummer N, Bates D (1973) Melanocyte stimulating hormone and parkinsonism. Lancet i: 463–464
Sparavigna A, Gallato R, Berardesea R, Parenzan P, D'Este P, Pepe P, Flori L, Andreassi L (1993) Studio pilota per la determinazione del range di normalità del sebo, idratazione e pH cutanei mediante “Bioskin Tester” G. Ital Dermatol Venerol 128: 5–10
St.Leiger D, Berrebi C, Duboz CH, et al (1979) Tje lipometre: an easy tool for rapid quantification of skin surface lipids in man. Arch Dermatol Res 265: 79
Streifler M, Avrami E, Rabey JM (1980) L-dopa and secretion of sebum in Parkinsonian patients. Eur Neurol 19: 43–48
Takayasu S, Wakinmoto H, Itamis S (1980) Activity of testosterone 5-α-reductase in various tissues of human skin. J Invest Dermatol 74: 187
Thody AJ, Shuster S (1972) Control of sebum secretion by the posterior pituitary. Nature 237: 346
Thody AJ, Shuster C (1975) Control of sebaceous gland function in the rat by β-melanocyte stimulating hormone. J Endocrinol 64: 503
Thody AJ, Cooper ME, Bowden PE (1976) Effect of β-melanocyte stimulating hormone and testosterone on cutaneous and modified sebaceous glands in the rat. J Endocrinol 71: 279
Thody AJ, Meddis D, Shuster S (1978) Increased sebaceous gland activity in the adult rat after melanocyte stimulating hormone treatment during early life. J Invest Dermatol 70: 328
Torre E, Cells ME, Chicchio SR (1984) Alpha-MSH and MIF-1 influence dopamine (DA) uptake on crude synaptosomal preparations from rat mediobasal hypotalamus (BMH) and caudate putamen (CP). Peptides 5: 669–674
Villares JCB, Carlini EA (1989) Sebum secretion in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: effect of anticholinergic and dopaminergic drugs. Acta Neurol Scand 80: 57–63
Wang DY, Bulbrook RD, Guillebaud J, et al (1972) The relation between sebum production and plasma 17-oxosteroid levels in normal women and in patients with breast cancer. Eur J Cancer 8: 381
Wiegnant WM, Cools AR, Gipsen VH (1977) ACTH-induced grooming involves brain dopamine. Eur Pharmacol 41: 343–345
Zlotogorski A, Glaser B, Bercovici B, Dikstein S (1991) Sebum measurements or rapid identification of hyperandrogenysm due to an ovarian Leydig cell tumor. Int J Dermatol 30: 276–277
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martignoni, E., Godi, L., Pacchetti, C. et al. Is seborrhea a sign of autonomic impairment in Parkinson's disease?. J. Neural Transmission 104, 1295–1304 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01294730
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01294730