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If you happened to find this website you’re probably looking for information about acanthosis nigricans (AN) and if my guess is right, you or one of your loved ones is suffering from this skin condition known as acanthosis nigricans. As you probably know by now, this condition, as defined by medical health authorities, is a skin disorder in which a dark, thick and often velvety skin appears in body folds and creases. These visible skin markings usually manifests in the back of the neck or neck folds, groin, armpits and knuckles.

Known causes, incidence, and risk factors of acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans can affect anyone including otherwise healthy people, or it may be associated with certain medical problems. Certain cases are genetically inherited or transmitted. The problem is most generally seen among people of African descent, simply because it is simpler to determine in more dark skin.

Weight problems, often obesity, and some endocrine disorders can result in acanthosis nigricans. It’s more prevalent in individuals with obesity-related diabetes.

In some cases, certain types of drugs specially hormones like the human growth hormone or birth control pills can also cause AN.

Likewise, persons afflicted with lymphona or gastrointestinal or genitourinary tracts cancers are also prone and more like to develop severe cases of this skin disorder.

Symptoms

This skin disorder usually manifests gradually and does not involve any symptoms other than skin changes.

At some point, the visible markings with the dark and velvety skin will start to appear. Folds and creases within the armpits, groin as well as the back of the neck will also appear and in some cases, over the knuckles of the fingers and toes.

In some cases, though less common, the affected areas can also include the lips, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or some other areas of the body. These affected areas are commonly seen in people with certain types of cancer.

Medical conditions linked with benign AN

According to studies, the most common source or cause of the benign-type of acanthosis nigricans is insulin resistance, a medical condition in which the body does not properly use the insulin that it produces. Insulin resistance is usually a precursor to type-2 diabetes and also one of the known causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women.

Acanthosis nigricans can also be found and associated with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Addison’s disease, and hemochromatosis (iron overload, or “bronze” diabetes).

In other cases, AN is trasmitted through heredity (passed on from parent to child). Another known form of AN is the malignant or cancerous AN. Malignant AN though clinically manifests like the the benign-type should be more carefully examined especially if the lesions develop more rapidly, affecting a large area of the body, symptomatic, or are in unnatural locations.

Signs and Tests

Your doctor or health care provider, usually an endocrinologist, can make a diagnosis of acanthosis nigricans simply by looking at your skin. To be sure, a skin biopsy may be ordered especially if unusual symptoms are manifested.

If no clear cause of AN is found, additional tests may be needed. Your doctor may order for blood tests, an endoscopy, or an x-ray in order to eliminate diabetes or cancer as the source of AN.

Prognosis

This skin disorder usually fades if the underlying cause can be found and treated.

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