Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that gives areas of the skin a thick, velvety appearance. It usually affects body folds, such as the armpits and neck.
Acanthosis nigricans can affect people of any age or race, but it’s more common in people who are overweight.
What causes acanthosis nigricans?
The cause of acanthosis nigricans isn’t known. However, it has been linked to high levels of insulin in the body, which may be caused by:
diabetes – type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and tends to develop in adults over 40; people with type 1 diabetes don’t produce any insulin
obesity – excess weight can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes
endocrine disorders – including an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and Cushing’s syndrome, where the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, a hormone that regulates metabolism
Rarely, acanthosis nigricans may be caused by some types of cancer.
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes the skin to darken and thicken. The skin changes usually begin in body folds, such as the armpits and neck. It can also affect the groin and areas around body openings and the anus.
Acanthosis nigricans is common in people who are overweight or obese. It often appears around puberty but can happen at any age. In people who are overweight or obese, acanthosis nigricans often goes away with weight loss.
Acanthosis nigricans is not contagious, cancerous, or a serious medical condition. However, it may be a sign of a more serious medical condition in some cases.
If you have acanthosis nigricans, see your doctor. If you don’t have acanthosis nigricans but notice that your skin has darkened or thickened in certain areas of your body, see your doctor.
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes dark patches to appear on the folds and creases of the skin. These patches are often referred to as velvety plaques, and they can range in color from brown to black. The most common areas affected by acanthosis nigricans include the back of the neck, groin, armpit and elbow. Acanthosis nigricans is not considered to be a serious medical issue, but it can have some very uncomfortable symptoms and side effects that are more than just cosmetic.
Acanthosis nigricans is usually caused by an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or obesity. It can also be the result of taking certain medications, such as birth control pills or high blood pressure medication. In addition, acanthosis nigricans can be caused by genetics. Some people are simply more susceptible to developing this condition than others.
Acanthosis nigricans is a condition characterized by dark, velvety discoloration of the skin. It usually affects the armpit and groin and can also affect the genital skin, the sides and back of the neck, and other skin folds in the body. It typically affects people who are overweight or obese.
Causes: Acanthosis nigricans is caused by a number of factors such as insulin resistance, genetics (familial type), pregnancy, oral contraceptive pills, pituitary tumors and certain medications like nicotinic acid and birth control pills.
Symptoms: The symptoms include brown-to-black pigmentation of the skin in body folds that may be itchy. There can be thickening of affected areas with a velvety texture to touch.
Treatment: The treatment includes weight loss, avoiding triggers like oral contraceptive pills and corticosteroids and use of topical retinoids for mild cases. Medications like acitretin (Soriatane), metformin (Glucophage) and pioglitazone (Actos) may help prevent acanthosis nigricans from getting worse.
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes skin to thicken and darken in certain areas of your body. The thick and dark patches most often occur in the armpits, groin, and neck. It can affect people of all ages, races, and genders.
Acanthosis nigricans usually affects people who are overweight or obese. The condition may be an early indicator of insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. If you have acanthosis nigricans and are overweight or obese, losing weight may help improve or eliminate the condition.
Other causes include hormonal disorders such as adrenal gland tumors or growth hormone excess. In rare cases, acanthosis nigricans can indicate an internal malignancy.
Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) is a skin condition that causes dark, thick and velvety like skin in body folds and creases. It also causes similar dark patches on the neck or body. Acanthosis nigricans can be a sign of insulin resistance and prediabetes.
If you have AN, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have diabetes or any other serious health problem. But if you do have diabetes or prediabetes, AN could be an early sign that your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be. The earlier you detect this, the more you can do to prevent serious complications such as heart disease and nerve damage.
Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of dark, velvety patches in body folds and creases. The affected skin can become thickened. These areas can also become itchy and irritated.
Acanthosis Nigricans is relatively common, affecting an estimated 2% of the population to some extent. It is most easily observed in people with darker skin but can occur in all skin types.
Acanthosis Nigricans usually affects the armpits, groin, neck, under breasts, and other areas where there are skin folds or flexion creases. It may also develop on the palms, fingers, and feet.
If you have been diagnosed with Acanthosis Nigricans (or think you may have it), we recommend keeping a journal of your symptoms (what seems to trigger them; what seems to make them better/worse) and sharing this information with a dermatologist.
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