The potential role of insulin-like growth factor 1 in acne vulgaris and its correlation with the clinical response before and after treatment with metformin.

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a complex and multifactorial inflammatory disease affecting the pilosebaceous follicles. Optimum treatment of AV is important to reduce the disease severity and recurrence.

Aim: To evaluate the role of metformin in the treatment of acne vulgaris by reducing the level of insulin-like growth factor 1.

Methods: Fifty patients with AV were included in the study. Their ages ranged from 16 to 30 years, and they had different grades of the disease. IGF-1 levels were measured in all patients before and after the treatment with metformin.

Results: After 4 months of therapy, there was a clinical improvement detected by an improvement in the global acne grading system (GAGS) score and also a significant decrease in IGF-level.

Conclusion: IGF-1 may have an important role in the pathogenesis of acne; also we can presume that oral metformin is an effective and safe line in the treatment of AV.