Throughout our lives, our bodies share signs that tell us what we are doing wrong, right or need to change. Our skin is no different. Many overweight African Americans have dark spots on their skin on their face, specifically around their cheeks and on the neck. Are these bad for your health?
What Is It?
Acanthosis nigricans isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom of another condition like diabetes, prediabetes and an indicator that you may need to seek medical attention.
The most frequent trigger for acanthosis nigricans is an excess of insulin in your bloodstream.
When you eat, your body converts carbohydrates into sugar molecules, such as glucose. Your cells use some of this glucose for energy, while your body stores the rest. The hormone insulin must allow glucose to enter cells so that the cells can use glucose for energy.
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People with overweight tend to develop resistance to insulin over time. Although the pancreas makes insulin, the body can’t use it efficiently. This creates a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, which can lead to high levels of both blood glucose and insulin in your bloodstream.
These skin patches tend to disappear after successfully treating the root condition.
Where does acanthosis nigricans appear?
These patches may appear on skin folds and other areas, such as the:
- armpits
- back of your neck
- groin, particularly increases and skin folds
- elbows
- face
- knees
- knuckles
- lips
- navel
- palms
- soles of the feet
- underneath female breasts
How Do People Get It?
The most frequent trigger for acanthosis nigricans is too much insulin in your bloodstream. Here’s why.
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When you eat, your body converts carbohydrates into sugar molecules such as glucose. Some of this glucose is used for energy while the rest is stored. In order to use the glucose for energy, insulin must also be used. The insulin enables the glucose to enter the cells.
Overweight people tend to develop resistance to insulin over time. So although the pancreas is making insulin, the body cannot use it properly. This creates a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, which can result in high levels of both blood glucose and insulin in your bloodstream.
What To Do About It?
Aesthetic treatment is generally ineffective, although lactic acid, topical urea, salicylic acid, calcipotriol, and retinoids have all been used with anecdotal success. In one reported case, a patient with long-standing facial acanthosis nigricans, which had proved resistant to dermabrasion, tretinoin, calcipotriol, and systemic etretinate, noted aesthetic improvement after carbon dioxide laser resurfacing.
The treatment for this largely focuses on addressing the underlying condition that’s causing it. If you’re overweight, a healthcare professional may advise you to maintain a moderate weight. They may also prescribe medications to help control your blood glucose.
If the condition occurs due to medications or supplements, your doctor may suggest that you discontinue them or recommend substitutes. The discolored skin patches will usually fade when you find the cause and get it under control.
-Decreasing overall calories while maintaining a low-fat, high-fiber diet will help patients lose weight. This, in turn, will help reduce blood sugar levels.
-The addition of an aerobic exercise program to a balanced diet will help to further aid weight loss and blood sugar reduction.
