It is a disorder which may start at any stage of life. It results in velvety, light brown to black markings generally on the neck. They occur under the arms or in the groin. This disease is associated with overweight people. People who eat too much of the wrong food mainly starches and sugars have raised insulin level. Patients suffering from acanthosis nigricans report a higher level of insulin. This results in insulin spillover into the skin and it activates the insulin receptors in the skin and forces it to grow abnormally. If one reduces the circulating insulin by a special diet it can lead to a rapid improvement of the skin problem.

A medical workshop should be done if acanthosis nigricans develops in people who are not overweight. In rare cases it is associated with a tumor. In this case acanthosis can be seen in extra places such as the hands or lips and is unusually severe. In some cases it may occur genetically or due to endocrine disorder.

Cause

The exact cause of this disease is not known and in rare cases the condition is associated with an endocrine disorder or a tumor. It is also sometimes associated with being overweight.

Symptoms

It appears slowly and it doesn’t cause any symptoms other than skin change. Eventually it results in dark and velvety skin with visible creases and markings appearing in the groin, neck and armpits. At times the palms, lips and soles of the feet and other areas may also be affected. A physician can diagnose this condition by looking at the skin and a skin biopsy may be required only in unusual cases. If no clear cause is established, the doctor may order x-ray, blood tests, or endoscopy to eliminate the possibility of cancer or diabetes.

Treatment

No particular treatment is required as it only leads to changes in the appearance of the skin but one must attempt to treat the core medical problem which may result in these skin changes. When a person develops this condition, a medical check up must be done in order to determine whether a patient has a gland disorder or a tumor. There is no cure for this condition. Alpha hydroxy acid, retin-A, 15% urea and salicylic acid are some of the prescriptions that may offer some improvement for this condition. Overweight people can get some relief if they shed weight. In the case of people suffering from a tumor or gland disorder, correction of the underlying problem will cure the problem.