METFORMIN THERAPY FOR ACNE VULGARIS AMONG MALES AND FEMALES WITHOUT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

AHMED H SULAIMAN; HYDER MIRGHANI; OMAIMA A HAMID; ABDELRAHMAN MOHAMED AHMED ABUKANNA; HAFIZ OSMAN IBNIDRIS ALMISBAH; HAIDER OSMAN IBN IDRIS ELMISBAH

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i3.53774

Authors

AHMED H SULAIMAN Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
HYDER MIRGHANI Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5817-6194
OMAIMA A HAMID Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9120-3236
ABDELRAHMAN MOHAMED AHMED ABUKANNA Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7877-8299
HAFIZ OSMAN IBNIDRIS ALMISBAH Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3507-4646
HAIDER OSMAN IBN IDRIS ELMISBAH Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2232-2540

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i3.53774

Keywords:

Acne vulgaris, Metformin,, Doxycycline, Tetracycline, Isotretinoin.

Abstract

Objectives: There is an association between Acne vulgaris and insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Although metformin was effective in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, its effects on acne vulgaris among males and females without PCOS are scarce. The study aimed to assess the impact of metformin on acne vulgaris among males and females without PCOS.

Methods: We searched seven databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library. We conducted the literature search during October and November of 2024 and the articles were included from inception up to the most recently published research. We used the keywords metformin, doxycycline, tetracycline, isotretinoin, acne vulgaris, acne severity, inflammatory lesions, non-inflammatory lesions, and Global Acne Grading System. A checklist was used to collect the information analyzed by the RevMan System 5.4 (United Kingdom).

Results: Out of a hundred and forty-eight studies identified, we screened 27 full texts, and only five studies were found eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. The studies included 214 patients with study duration of 2–6 months. Metformin was effective in reducing global acne severity scores. However, it was inferior to doxycycline, tetracycline, and isotretinoin, odd ratio, 1.16, 95% CI, 0.37–1.94, Chi-square, 3.95, and p=0.004, and odd ratio, 3.75, 95% CI, 1.85–5.65, Chi-square, 98.32, and p<0.001, respectively.

Conclusion: Metformin was effective in acne vulgaris treatment among males and females without PCOS, p<0.05, but not superior to other systemic therapies. p>0.05. Furthermore, extensive controlled trials are recommended.

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Author Biography

OMAIMA A HAMID, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

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