558 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS % - .. •' ß -..•::•. , • ', :.:.i 2•' • ':" •!: • ' "':" .... '"' .... •.. • • • ........ '" 5'.!, . .. :. % ,• • • :.•.. .%., -.. ß .. :i•. ,. !•½ i•i-: :.•...-' -:- . . '•:: .,.•: . .-'i ' ""•'" ' . .... • •:-• --'•'•- • ::, ': • -" ,, ' .... x•2'..'5 '4 '" ' •' : .... - •' ' ' •' ' • "4 -• •' •:: •:":• '•• ' • .... ': "'*•: '"'"i'• . ::: '• •." i .:' ': '" . . .:. : • •'.. "• •. .: .... ":'"'• '•' i' " ¾. •""'• "• : .. : " r•: :'• .... .,d :......::..,:::. ,. (1•)

EFFECT OF TOPICAL HORMONES ON SKIX (c) Figure 8. Hormonal effect on derreal cells. The control specimen (A) exhibits the char- acteristic bipolar, spindle shaped fibroblasts, packed in parallel bundles at the upper portions of the dermis. Testosterone treatment (B) causes the cells to assrune a more blast-like, stellate form, and they are found more uniformly distributed throughout the dermis. Topical corticosteroids cause a marked diminution on the cell population (C). Either the fibrocytes are not staining or their numbers have been reduced. The relative diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase (DPND) activity in the epidermis is also seen with this enzyme preparation. (Original magnification 200 X ) cytes, which are shrunken to skimpy, bipolar forms packed in parallel bundles within the Hale staining areas (Fig. 8A). HISTOLOGIC RESULTS OF STEROID APPLICATION The microscopic structural improvements following the application of hormones are far more impressive than those appredated with the unaided eye. These alterations are readily apparent in the majority of subjects (about 75%), including many individuals who showed no clinical modifications. The tenor of the testosterone effect, and that of progesterone and pregnenolone to a lesser degree, was toward a more youthful architecture. Thickening of the treated epidermis (through increase in cell size and number of cell layers) occurred to an extent which made it appear as though it had been viewed at a higher