The invention relates to the use, as active principle, in a physiologically acceptable medium, in a composition, of an effective amount of at least one compound of the indolecarboxylic family, this compound or these compositions being intended to treat disorders associated with overactivity of 5&agr;-reductase. These compounds or the compositions containing them are more particularly intended to treat androgen-dependent disorders such as seborrhoea and/or acne and/or hirsutism and/or androgenic alopecia. The invention also relates to novel compounds of the indolecarboxylic family and to compositions containing them.