Metformin HCL Lotion 20% is a compounded form of metformin prepared as a lotion that's applied to the skin, rather than a tablet that's swallowed. It's designed to deliver the medication transdermally — meaning through the skin — and into the bloodstream and underlying tissues, bypassing the digestive system entirely.
A few specifics:
- Same active ingredient as oral Metformin. It's metformin HCL, prepared in a topical formulation by Oana's partner state-licensed compounding pharmacy.
- Applied like a lotion. Your clinician will give you specific guidance on application site, amount, and frequency based on what you're treating.
No GI side effects. This is the biggest practical benefit. Because the medication doesn't pass through the digestive tract, the most common downside of oral metformin — nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset — doesn't apply.
- Different effect profile than oral. Metformin HCL Lotion 20% is generally lower-dose in terms of systemic effect, which makes it well-suited for localized PCOS-related skin issues but typically not as the primary treatment for systemic insulin resistance.
What Metformin HCL Lotion 20% is typically used for:
- PCOS-related acne, particularly when oral medications haven't worked well or aren't tolerated.
- Melasma (the dark patches on the face that can be associated with hormonal changes).
- Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a specific type of scarring hair loss with a hormonal and inflammatory component.
- As a complement to oral treatments, where the topical addresses skin-level effects while the oral works on systemic insulin response.
Metformin HCL Lotion 20% is prescription-only and compounded specifically for each patient. Your Oana clinician will determine whether it's appropriate for your case during the medical intake.