Dermatological repercussions and virilization effects induced by the use of anabolic steroids in women

Abstract

The search for na idealized beauty standard, centered on hypertrophy and extreme muscle definition, reflects a sociocultural phenomenon driven by the strong visual appeal constructed in virtual environments. Given the full scope of this panorama and the issues presented, the primary objective of this study is to analyze the dermatological repercussions and virilization side effects caused by the indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids in women. To achieve this, a qualitative narrative review was conducted, searching for articles on PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar platforms. The terms “Anabolic Steroids,” “Virilization,” and “Women” were adopted to select materials in Portuguese published between 2022 and 2026, excluding works with confusing structures or conference abstracts.

The data reveal that the consumption of these substances generates a positive nitrogen balance that elevates muscle protein synthesis but causes a severe hormonal shock to female physiology. In cutaneous tissue, enzymatic processes convert exogenous hormones into compounds with high affinity for local receptors, stimulating the hypertrophy of sebaceous glands, increased oiliness, and the onset of severe inflammatory acne. Furthermore, miniaturization of hair follicles is observed, which reduces the hair growth phase and consolidates alopecia. The progression of virilization also manifests as permanent dysphonia due to the thickening of the vocal cords, hirsutism, breast atrophy, clitoral hypertrophy, menstrual disorders, infertility, as well as severe mood swings and psychological dependence.

Consequently, it is evident that the recreational use of these drugs results in chronic systemic toxicity and frequently irreversible anatomical damage, making the urgent implementation of health regulation strategies, awareness campaigns, and a multidisciplinary care model focused on harm reduction to female biological integrity essential.