Steroid Abuse Permanently Scars One Young Man

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Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 24 Aug 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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A 21 year-old-man scarred permanently from steroid abuse was recently profiled in a Clinical Picture released on August 22, 2008 in The Lancet. This case provides an example of one of the dire complications that could arise from steroid doping.

An amateur bodybuilder, the man entered the University Hospital Dusseldorf with fever-like symptoms. When examined, he showed ulcers, abscesses, and pustules on his chest and upper back, a form of acne. After persistent interrogation, the patient revealed that he abused anabolic steroids, in the form of twice weekly administrations 250 mg of testosterone enantate and 30 mg metandienona. The acne was diagnosed as acne conglobata, induced by anabolic steroids. Additional symptoms inclued shrunken testicles and a very low sperm count.

In summary, the authors point out the lasting effects that this man will experience: "Skin lesions showed rapid improvement after discontinuation of anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse and with antiseptic and antibiotic therapy. However, the extensive scarring is likely to remain with the young man for the rest of his life."

The dire consequences of doping
Gerber, Kukova, Meller, Neumann, Homey
Lancet 2008; 372: 656
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Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
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