TLDR Taking metformin with intense-pulsed-light therapy improves hair removal for people with PCOS.
In a 2008 study involving 70 PCOS patients, researchers found that combining metformin (1,500 mg daily) with intense-pulsed-light (IPL) therapy significantly improved hair removal outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to IPL therapy alone. Of the 52 participants who completed the study, those in the metformin plus IPL group had a higher rate of hair clearance (59.9% vs. 23.3%) and reported greater satisfaction. The study also showed that metformin improved insulin sensitivity and reduced serum androgen levels, which likely contributed to the reduction in hirsutism. Mild side effects were noted, with only one patient discontinuing due to intolerance. These results suggest that metformin can enhance the efficacy of IPL therapy in treating hirsutism in PCOS patients.
12 citations,
December 2005 in “PubMed” Some men with early hair loss may have similar hormonal changes to women with Polycystic ovary syndrome, and could be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
4809 citations,
January 2004 in “Fertility and Sterility” The 2003 consensus updated PCOS diagnosis criteria and highlighted increased risks of diabetes and heart disease for those affected.
192 citations,
September 2003 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Metformin is effective for treating excessive hair growth in women with PCOS and may work better than the standard treatment in some ways.
49 citations,
August 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Higher IGF-1 levels in hair follicles link to better finasteride results for hair loss.
90 citations,
August 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin improves hair growth and menstrual frequency in women with PCOS and hirsutism.
January 2010 in “The Year book of dermatology” Taking metformin with intense pulsed light therapy improves hair removal for women with PCOS.
13 citations,
July 2011 in “Photomedicine and laser surgery” Coloring white hair before IPL treatment effectively helps remove it.
82 citations,
May 2016 in “Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology” The conclusion is that managing androgen excess requires long-term treatment, including hormonal contraceptives and androgen blockers, with follow-up after six months.
2 citations,
January 2011 in “Elsevier eBooks” Early treatment of acne is crucial to prevent scarring and psychological effects.
89 citations,
November 2014 in “Medical Clinics of North America” Eating 500 fewer calories a day and making lifestyle changes can improve PCOS symptoms and reduce diabetes risk; more research is needed on its causes and treatments.
