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What Causes Discoloration On Neck, Armpits, Inner Thigh And Groin Area?
I believe my daughter may have Acanthosis Nigricans. she is 16 and the discoloration on her neck, arm pits, and inner thigh and groin area began around 8 or 9. She also had this same plaque like thick dark skin on her scalp and sometimes comes back. She is over weight currently and has always been in the 95th percentile in growing stages. The skin darkening appeared years before she became obese. (still not sure she is, the Dr. only said she should watch her calories and fat and work out). She is rarely ill, and usually its only a headache when she is. If she never feels sick then is there even a possibility she may have Diabetes or and Endocrine disorder or worse cancer? Or does obesity sound more likely the cause?
Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
Acanthosis nigricans usually presents with dark, thick, velvety textured skin in neck and axillary folds commonly.
A large majority of cases are idiopathic.
It is more common in overweight individuals and is due to insulin resistance that comes with being overweight.
Fasting insulin levels are frequently raised in these overweight individuals as a marker of insulin resistance.
Weight loss and controlling blood glucose levels through exercise and diet often improves symptoms in those who have insulin resistance and abnormal glucose tolerance.
Acanthosis may also be associated with endocrinopathies, such as hypothyroidism, acromegaly, polycystic ovary disease, insulin-resistant diabetes, or Cushing's disease and should be considered/ ruled out in those who have widespread acanthosis.
Therefore people with acanthosis nigricans should be screened for diabetes, thyroid.
Topical tretinoin 0.05% cream once daily at night helps to lighten pigmentation along with weight loss, exercise and diet management.
Alpha-Lipoic acid has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and thereby reverses the acanthosis nigricans which arises as a result of insulin resistance states e.g Obesity and diabetes.
Lipoic acid is commercially available for prescription in acanthosis nigricans.
Regards
Acanthosis nigricans usually presents with dark, thick, velvety textured skin in neck and axillary folds commonly.
A large majority of cases are idiopathic.
It is more common in overweight individuals and is due to insulin resistance that comes with being overweight.
Fasting insulin levels are frequently raised in these overweight individuals as a marker of insulin resistance.
Weight loss and controlling blood glucose levels through exercise and diet often improves symptoms in those who have insulin resistance and abnormal glucose tolerance.
Acanthosis may also be associated with endocrinopathies, such as hypothyroidism, acromegaly, polycystic ovary disease, insulin-resistant diabetes, or Cushing's disease and should be considered/ ruled out in those who have widespread acanthosis.
Therefore people with acanthosis nigricans should be screened for diabetes, thyroid.
Topical tretinoin 0.05% cream once daily at night helps to lighten pigmentation along with weight loss, exercise and diet management.
Alpha-Lipoic acid has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and thereby reverses the acanthosis nigricans which arises as a result of insulin resistance states e.g Obesity and diabetes.
Lipoic acid is commercially available for prescription in acanthosis nigricans.
Regards
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