Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38931395›Full record

ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)2024

Metformin Therapy for Acne Vulgaris: A Meta-Analysis.

Lidia Szefler, Weronika Szybiak-Skora, Anna Sadowska-Przytocka, Ryszard Zaba, Barbara Wieckowska, Katarzyna Lacka

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. From pixels to pimples.JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lidia SzeflerStudents' Scientific Society at Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Student's Scientific Section of Endocrinology, Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland.
Weronika Szybiak-SkoraStudents' Scientific Society at Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Student's Scientific Section of Endocrinology, Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland.
Anna Sadowska-PrzytockaDepartment of Allergic and Occupational Skin Diseases, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland.
Ryszard ZabaDepartment of Dermatology and Venerology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland.
Barbara WieckowskaDepartment of Computer Sciences and Statistics, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-1811-2583
Katarzyna LackaDepartment of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Science, 61-701 Poznan, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a common disease, which occurs in adolescents as well as adults and has a significant influence on the patient's quality of life (QoL) in every aspect. Due to resistance to standard therapies, it has become necessary to prospect for new treatment strategies. It is important to highlight that the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of acne such as metabolic and hormonal disorders may significantly improve the effectiveness of acne treatment. The correlation between Insulin Resistance (IR) and acne has been proven. Both disorders share many common occurrence factors and activation pathways. Metformin, an antihyperglycemic agent, seems to be a possible therapy option, not only because of its insulin sensitizing ability but also via plenty of additional effects of this medicine. While the efficiency of metformin therapy in patients with acne and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is well explored, it is still necessary to evaluate it in patients without any endocrinopathies. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the effectiveness of oral metformin as a monotherapy in acne patients without PCOS or other endocrinopathies. Study selection was performed with included criteria such as no PCOS and other endocrinopathies diagnosed, oral administration of metformin, and metformin in monotherapy. Selected studies contained comparisons in the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) before and after metformin therapy. Statistical analysis detected significant improvement in skin condition after treatment with metformin.

Indexed as

acne vulgarisinsulin resistancemeta-analysismetformin treatment

Identifiers

PMID38931395
PMCPMC11206792

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.