Acanthosis Nigricans

Never heard of this one before?  There are a lot of skin conditions that people will commonly describe by what they see but much of the time, a condition will have a specific name and a specific cause. Acanthosis nigricans can often be described as melasma as it is similar in appearance.

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that is often associated with an underlying condition such as insulin resistance.  The skin becomes thicker, velvety and, depending on the person’s skin tone, can often become darker.  Typically it presents where two skin areas touch or rub together and is most commonly seen in folds around the neck, underarms, beneath the breasts, the groin.  It can also appear and can also present on the sides of the face/cheeks, upper lip and forehead.

Typically it occurs in people with darker skin tones however this doesn’t exclude White Caucasians and fairer type Asian skins from the condition. It is almost nearly the sign of an underlying condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome.   PSOS causes over production of insulin which is a key contributor to Acanthosis nigricans.

Naturally it is always better to treat the underlying condition triggered by or associated with hormonal changes as in doing so the skin my lighten itself. However, if not, at Skindevour we offer Melasma Management treatments using our Clarity II. Unfortunately there is cure or quick fix, but with treatment you can reduce the appearance and feel more confident and happy in your skin.

The image attached to this blog are some great results for a very happy client who experienced darkening of the skin around the lips, cheeks, sides of face and neck folds.