ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INSULIN RESISTANCE AND AESTHETIC TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN ACNE, MELASMA, AND SKIN AGING IN THE UAE POPULATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: IR has been widely accepted to be an important metabolic component affecting the onset and progression of many dermatological diseases. However, there is limited information available regarding the effects of IR on aesthetic outcomes in patients suffering from acne vulgaris, melasma, and skin aging. This is especially true for the UAE population.

Methods: This study employed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA 2020 principles. The electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched for articles published from January 2000 to December 2025, which examined the correlation of insulin resistance with the clinical outcomes following aesthetic dermatology procedures.

Results: Twenty-four studies including 6,842 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria, out of which 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Patients suffering from insulin resistance had shown worse therapeutic outcomes in terms of acne vulgaris (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.39-2.38), melasma (SMD = -0.63; 95% CI: -0.89 to -0.37), and skin aging (SMD = -0.51; 95% CI: -0.78 to -0.24) as compared to the patients who did not suffer from insulin resistance. Moreover, there were increased recurrence rates in the patients suffering from insulin resistance, while they had poorer outcomes as well.

Conclusion: In cases of acne, melasma, and skin aging, there exists an association between insulin resistance and lower effectiveness of aesthetic treatments. The integration of metabolic evaluations into everyday aesthetics dermatology practice may lead to improved patient care through better selection of treatments and prevention of recurrences, especially in regions where metabolic diseases are common like the UAE