Increased Insulin Sensitivity by Metformin Enhances Intense-Pulsed-Light-Assisted Hair Removal in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

    December 2008 in “ Dermatology ”
    Hassan Rezvanian, Neda Adibi, Mansour Siavash, Ali Kachuei, Fariba Shojaee-Moradie, Ali Asilian
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    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.
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