In the following, let us get acquainted with the most important information and details regarding Acanthosis nigricans:
What is acanthosis nigricans?
Acanthosis nigricans is a disorder that affects the skin, in which spots appear in a dark color that are close to black, and are thick to the touch.
Acanthosis nigricans causes itching and an unpleasant odor, and it usually appears in the following areas:
- armpit;
- the neck.
- thigh.
- elbow.
- the ride.
- lips.
It is worth noting that the appearance of acanthosis nigricans is associated with a serious health problem, such as: pre-diabetes, and it quickly disappears when the main cause of it is treated.
Who gets acanthosis nigricans?
After you know this information regarding the disease, you must be wondering which groups are most at risk of contracting it.
Acanthosis nigricans affects both men and women, and is more common in those who:
- They are overweight or obese.
- They have dark skin color.
- Have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
For children who develop acanthosis nigricans, it may be an indicator of a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
What are the causes of acanthosis nigricans?
Acanthosis nigricans occurs when epidermal skin cells begin to multiply too quickly, and this unusual growth of skin cells usually occurs as a result of a high level of insulin in the blood.
Therefore, the main causes of this disorder are:
1. High levels of insulin
When you eat, your body converts carbohydrates into sugar molecules, such as glucose. Some of this glucose is used as energy by cells, while the rest is stored.
The hormone insulin works to allow glucose to enter the cells to be used as energy.
People who are overweight or obese tend to develop resistance to insulin over time, and although the pancreas continues to secrete this hormone, the body becomes unable to use it.
This causes glucose to build up in the bloodstream, which in turn leads to higher levels of insulin in the blood.
The presence of high amounts of insulin stimulates normal cells to reproduce abnormally, as they contain higher levels of melanin, so they appear as black spots.
2. Take some medicine
Acanthosis nigricans can be caused by taking some types of medications such as birth control pills, thyroid medications, and even some products that help build muscle in athletes.
All of these medications would cause a change in insulin levels in the body, causing acanthosis nigricans to appear.
3. Exposure to other possible causes
In rare cases, these may be an underlying cause of your injury:
- stomach cancer.
- Disorders of the adrenal glands.
- Low level of thyroid hormone.
- Take high doses of niacin, a medication used to lower bad cholesterol levels.
How is acanthosis nigricans treated?
As mentioned earlier, acanthosis nigricans is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of another disease that requires medical attention.
Treatment in this case focuses on identifying the main cause behind the injury and then treating it.
If you are overweight, your doctor will likely ask you to lose weight and prescribe certain medications to lower your blood glucose levels.
You may be looking for a treatment that hides these annoying spots, so it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including weight and food, and monitor the medications you are taking.
