Acanthosis Nigricans
Acanthosis Nigricans:
- Appears as brown, velvety skin changes
- Is sometimes mistaken for dirt
- Is not due to lack of washing
- Cannot be removed by scrubbing the skin
- Usually affects the back of the neck, underarms, groins
- May sometimes involve the tops of the fingers, hands, feet and toes
- In more severe cases may be associated with the development of skin tags
- May be related to:
- Weight Gain and Obesity
- Hormonal Irregularities (e.g. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Irregular Periods)
- Diabetes
Treatment
- There is no specific treatment for this disorder
- Weight loss may lead to reversal of some of the skin changes
- A variety of creams may be of some benefit including:
- Mild Cortisone (Steroid) creams
- Vitamin A Acid cream
- The addition of salicylic acid to the creams above may be helpful
- Treatment is often unsatisfactory for both the patient and physician
- Treatment of the underlying diabetes or hormonal abnormality, if present, often does not change the appearance of the skin
- Your doctor may order blood tests, for hormones etc. if he/she feels that it is appropriate
Surgical Treatment:
- Is not effective to remove large areas affected by acanthosis nigricans
- Can be used to remove skin tags associated with acanthosis nigricans on the:
- Eyelids
- Neck
- Underarms
- Groins
- Under the breasts
- To learn more about skin tag removal, please click here
Acanthosis Nigricans – Neck
What if you are interested to learn more?
If you would like to learn more please phone the aesthetic centre directly at (905) 549-7873 to book a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable technicians or