{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T17:06:00Z","timestamp":1773335160527,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773273600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Growth hormone (GH) is an ancestral hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. In adulthood, it is essential to regulate metabolism. GH synthesis and secretion are regulated in a complex manner, primarily through the actions of hypothalamic neuropeptides (GHRH and somatostatin) that integrate hormonal, metabolic, and neurogenic signals. Currently, recombinant human GH is widely used to treat growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and numerous non-GHD disorders, such as short stature and catabolic conditions. Conversely, an excess of GH may lead to different and severe conditions, such as acromegaly, gigantism, Carney complex, McCune\u2013Albright syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. In patients with growth hormone excess disorders or those treated with GH, skin manifestations are common and can include skin thickening, coarsened facial features, skin tags, oily skin, and excessive sweating. These dermatological changes result from the direct actions of GH and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) on skin cells and appendages, leading to increased collagen synthesis and connective tissue expansion. This review focuses on the various skin symptoms associated with these disorders caused by GH excess. This narrative review summarizes recent findings on the management of skin lesions in GH-treated patients and in those with GH excess, highlighting the benefits, side effects, and limitations of current therapies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1777658","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T05:28:14Z","timestamp":1773293294000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Skin lesions in patients treated with growth hormone and those with growth hormone excess: a current overview"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Mateusz","family":"Matwiejuk","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Bialystok","place":["Bialystok, Poland"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hanna","family":"My\u015bliwiec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Bialystok","place":["Bialystok, Poland"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Agnieszka","family":"Miklosz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok","place":["Bialystok, Poland"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Adrian","family":"Chabowski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok","place":["Bialystok, Poland"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Iwona","family":"Flisiak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Bialystok","place":["Bialystok, Poland"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1111\/apa.15948","article-title":"The history, physiology and treatment safety of growth hormone","volume":"111","author":"Tidblad","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acta Paediatr"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1159\/000183766","article-title":"Normal control of growth hormone secretion","volume":"40","author":"Hartman","year":"1993","journal-title":"Horm Res"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1093691","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2023.1093691","article-title":"The influence of growth hormone on pediatric body composition: a systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Ferruzzi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph16030307","article-title":"Growth hormone (GH) therapy during the transition period: should we think about early retesting in patients with idiopathic and isolated GH deficiency?","volume":"16","author":"Penta","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.5114\/pedm.2020.95624","article-title":"Growth hormone therapy in children with partial growth hormone deficiency. Are we treating the right patients?","volume":"26","author":"Krukowska-Andrzejczyk","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1530\/eje.1.02191","article-title":"Incidence of GH deficiency - a nationwide study","volume":"155","author":"Stochholm","year":"2006","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1587","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2011-0179","article-title":"Evaluation and treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline","volume":"96","author":"Molitch","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S25","DOI":"10.1530\/EJE-09-0273","article-title":"Etiology, baseline characteristics, and biochemical diagnosis of GH deficiency in the adult: are there regional variations?","volume":"161","author":"Brabant","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1159\/000452150","article-title":"Guidelines for growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I treatment in children and adolescents: growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, and primary insulin-like growth factor-I deficiency","volume":"86","author":"Grimberg","year":"2016","journal-title":"Horm Res Paediatr"},{"key":"ref10","first-page":"178","article-title":"Skin manifestations of acromegaly\u2014a study of 34 cases","volume":"63","author":"Arya","year":"1997","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5634","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers15235634","article-title":"A review of recent advances in computer-aided detection methods using hyperspectral imaging engineering to detect skin Cancer","volume":"15","author":"Huang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancers (Basel)"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"755","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering12070755","article-title":"Hyperspectral imaging for enhanced skin Cancer classification using machine learning","volume":"12","author":"Lin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Bioengineering (Basel)"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1194","DOI":"10.2174\/1389201020666190809120333","article-title":"Impact of the transfersome delivered human growth hormone on the dermal fibroblast cells","volume":"20","author":"Azimi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr Pharm Biotechnol"},{"key":"ref14","article-title":"Neurofibromatosis","volume-title":"StatPearls","author":"Le","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM199007053230101","article-title":"Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old","volume":"323","author":"Rudman","year":"1990","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0029-1211462","article-title":"Growth hormone substitution in growth hormone-deficient adults: effects on collagen type I synthesis and skin thickness","volume":"104","author":"Kann","year":"1996","journal-title":"Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1550-8528.1996.tb00511.x","article-title":"Body composition and tissue distributions in growth hormone deficient adults before and after growth hormone treatment","volume":"4","author":"L\u00f6nn","year":"1996","journal-title":"Obes Res"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1067-1927.2004.012407.x","article-title":"Growth hormone effects on hypertrophic scar formation: a randomized controlled trial of 62 burned children","volume":"12","author":"de Oliveira","year":"2004","journal-title":"Wound Repair Regen"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1179","DOI":"10.1001\/archdermatol.2012.2149","article-title":"Potential role of human growth hormone in melanoma growth promotion","volume":"148","author":"Handler","year":"2012","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.5114\/pdia.2014.40917","article-title":"Hypertrophic scars in a patient with Turner's syndrome treated with recombinant growth hormone","volume":"31","author":"K\u0119dzia","year":"2014","journal-title":"Postepy Dermatol Alergol"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1007\/s11102-016-0754-x","article-title":"Epidemiology of acromegaly: review of population studies","volume":"20","author":"Lavrentaki","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pituitary"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.5070\/D3238036001","article-title":"Dermatologic manifestations of acromegaly: a case in point and a focused review","volume":"23","author":"Degirmentepe","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dermatol Online J"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1590\/s0365-05962012000100031","article-title":"Prevalence of dermatologic disorders in 15 patients with acromegaly","volume":"87","author":"Resende","year":"2012","journal-title":"An Bras Dermatol"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ghir.2012.02.006","article-title":"Acromegaly is associated with decreased skin transepidermal water loss and temperature, and increased skin pH and sebum secretion partially reversible after treatment","volume":"22","author":"Borlu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Growth Hormon IGF Res"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1054\/ghir.2002.0258","article-title":"The relationship between serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and its binding proteins and microvascular function in acromegalic patients","volume":"12","author":"Krsek","year":"2002","journal-title":"Growth Hormon IGF Res"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"883","DOI":"10.1001\/archdermatol.2009.169","article-title":"Predictive value of caf\u00e9 au lait macules at initial consultation in the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1","volume":"145","author":"Nunley","year":"2009","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1159\/000053208","article-title":"Growth hormone and neurofibromatosis","volume":"53","author":"Howell","year":"2000","journal-title":"Horm Res"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1142","DOI":"10.7326\/0003-4819-61-6-1142","article-title":"Axillary freckling as a diagnostic aid in neurofibromatosis","volume":"61","author":"Crowe","year":"1964","journal-title":"Ann Intern Med"},{"key":"ref29","article-title":"McCune-Albright syndrome","volume-title":"StatPearls","author":"Holbrook","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM193704292161701","article-title":"Syndrome characterized by osteitis fibrosa disseminata, areas of pigmentation and endocrine dysfunction, with precocious puberty in females, report of five cases","volume":"216","author":"Albright","year":"1937","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref31","article-title":"Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1","volume-title":"StatPearls","author":"Singh","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"853","DOI":"10.1001\/archderm.1997.03890430067009","article-title":"Multiple facial angiofibromas and collagenomas in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1","volume":"133","author":"Darling","year":"1997","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"ref33","article-title":"Carney complex","volume-title":"StatPearls","author":"Elshimy","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"699","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI118467","article-title":"Carney complex, a familial multiple neoplasia and lentiginosis syndrome. Analysis of 11 kindreds and linkage to the short arm of chromosome 2","volume":"97","author":"Stratakis","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Clin Invest"},{"key":"ref35","article-title":"Sheehan syndrome","volume-title":"StatPearls","author":"Schury","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1007\/s11102-024-01481-1","article-title":"Sheehan syndrome: a current approach to a dormant disease","volume":"28","author":"Karaca","year":"2025","journal-title":"Pituitary"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-3083.2006.01898.x","article-title":"The effects of severe growth hormone deficiency on the skin of patients with Sheehan's syndrome","volume":"21","author":"Borlu","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1515\/jpem-2017-0309","article-title":"Allergic and non-allergic skin reactions associated with growth hormone therapy: elucidation of causative agents","volume":"31","author":"Mehta","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e27920","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.27920","article-title":"Attenuation of human growth hormone-induced rash with graded dose challenge","volume":"14","author":"Mann","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1777658\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T05:28:16Z","timestamp":1773293296000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1777658\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]]},"references-count":39,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1777658"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1777658","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]]},"article-number":"1777658"}}