Acne is diagnosed primarily by history and physical examination.
1st-order laboratory parameters-obligatory laboratory tests.
- In girls/women, determination of:
- Total testosterone (male sex hormone).
- Free testosterone
- Sex hormone-binding hormone (SHBG)
- Prolactin
- Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) – studied when testosterone is elevated.
- Androstenedione – male sex hormone.
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the medical history, physical examination, etc. – for differential diagnostic clarification (polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO); androgenization; adrenogenital syndrome (AGS); hirsutism and others).
- Smear from the comedones/pustules or pustules to determine the resistance of the bacteria.
- In girls/women determination of:
- LH
- FSH
- DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
- Cortisol
- Estradiol
- TSH
- In severe and unclear courses:
- Small blood count
- Differential blood count
- Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
- Insulin
- Immunoglobulins of the type IgG, IgM and Ig A
- Zinc determination
- Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test (TPHA) – for suspected syphilis.
- HIV test
- Biopsy – tissue sample for histological examination.
