The role of metformin in the treatment of dermatological diseases: A narrative review

Abstract

OBJETIVE: To review and discuss the current evidence of the use of metformin as a therapeutic tool in frequent skin diseases. DESIGN: Original article. Qualitative research. Narrative review. LOCATION: Aragon and Murcia, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Resident Physicians. Dermatology and Primary Health Care. METHOD: A narrative review has been carried out using the PubMed bibliographic database, being the search date the 27th of January of 2022. RESULTS: Metformin has proven to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis and allergic contact dermatitis. It has also shown antitumor properties regarding basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Additionally, beneficial effects of adjuvant treatment with metformin have been described in patients with basal cell carcinoma receiving photodynamic therapy. In patients with endocrinology-related dermatosis such as hirsutism, acanthosis nigricans and eruptive xanthomas, treatment with metformin has demonstrated therapeutic effectiveness. Topical treatment with metformin has also been useful in the treatment of melasma. Finally, it has been proposed as a drug with anti-aging and wound-healing promoting properties. Severe adverse effects have not been observed for any of the previously described indications, being this a well-tolerated treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin is an effective and safe adjuvant in the therapeutic scheme of various inflammatory dermatoses, skin neoplasms, endocrinology-related dermatosis, melasma, skin aging and wound healing processes.