Acanthosis nigricans can not be prevented if it is hereditary, if for instance ment is caused by obesity, can be controlled with weight loss, or the case are certain drugs, can be controlled leaving to take them.

It is important to see a doctor for an evaluation of their health, if you notice any change in skin tone (regardless of area).

Diagnosis and treatment of Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans can be diagnosed by observing the appearance of the skin and in some cases by skin biopsy. The doctor may order blood tests, endoscopy or X-rays to rule out underlying diabetes or cancer.

Has not been established what the best treatment of the skin lesions of acanthosis nigricans. Among the symptomatic treatments include topical antibiotics, retinoids (topical and systemic) and keratolytic.

Although Acanthosis nigricans is an inflammatory disorder, topical corticosteroids have been used very high power for its stultifying effect.

However, the most effective treatment is weight loss and exercise leading to correct the underlying endocrine abnormality. The primary treatment should be then directed at the underlying cause.

Acanthosis nigricans Forecast

The appearance of these skin lesions may be an early sign that informs the development of serious problems, especially when accompanied by other factors such as family history of stroke, diabetes and hypertension, abdominal obesity, high triglycerides or low cholesterol “good” (HDL).

The presence of acanthosis nigricans in an obese patient reflects the presence of a serious biochemical disorder which must be corrected. Acanthosis nigricans often fades if the cause is discovered and treated.

This disease can occur for various reasons, including:

- Genetic factors inherited from parents to children.

- Drug-induced, such as oral contraceptives or human growth hormone, used in treating diseases that cause developmental problems, such as Turner syndrome and Prader-Willy.

- Medical problems: it may be associated with other medical problems such as obesity, like many endocrine (hormonal), acanthosis nigricans may occur. Often occurs in people with diabetes, and severe cases can also occur with this condition in people with cancer in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts or with lymphoma.

- The Malignant acanthosis nigricans is rare and although the exact incidence is unknown, it seems that is a fairly unusual in patients with cancer.

Symptoms of Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans appears slowly, no symptoms except for skin changes, which finally appear velvety dark segments with highly visible stains and creases. These spots are usually in the armpits, groin, and neck.

Risk factors of Acanthosis nigricans

Acanthosis nigricans is a common condition in people of African descent. It particularly affects black women. People with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are more likely to develop the disease.

• Miescher syndrome: hereditary benign and may appear at birth or during adolescence. Early lesions may show unilateral.

• Carteaud Gougerot syndrome: a benign and possibly inherited condition that affects young women.

• Pseudoacanthosis nigricans: This is the most common type. It is a benign juvenile form associated with obesity and endocrine disorders.

• Acanthosis evil: he named for the association with a highly aggressive internal malignancy and rapidly fatal course, particularly the gastrointestinal tract. The appearance of acanthosis nigricans to the search of a neoplasm, usually gastric in 69% of cases.

• Hirschowitz syndrome: family comprises a complete deafness developed in childhood, a progressive demyelination of the peripheral sensory nerves, loss of antral motility and multiple diverticula in the ileum.

• Syndromic Acanthosis nigricans: There are two types: A and B.

- Type A: appears in young women with signs of virilization or accelerated growth. It is also called HAIR-AN syndrome (hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans).

- Type B: Type B normally starts around age 40. The patients have acanthosis nigricans of varying severity. They showed an uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, and in premenopausal women, an ovarian hyperandrogenism.

What is acanthosis nigricans?

Acanthosis nigricans (AN), also known as acanthosis nigricans, a dermatological lesion characterized by the presence of dark areas (plaques brown), thick and velvety, like elephant skin.

These plates appear in the folds and creases of the body, predominantly affecting the axillae, the inner surface of the forearm, side of neck, lower leg and umbilical area.

Other areas may also be affected by acanthosis nigricans are the oral mucosa, lips, palms of the hands, soles of the feet or other areas. In extreme cases may present a generalized involvement.

Detection of acanthosis nigricans has gained importance in recent years, although it is a problem that only causes inconvenience to the sufferer aesthetic, its origin is related to internal disorders responsible for circulatory diseases, which in advanced stages, can cause clogging or rupture of arteries, resulting in heart attacks in heart and brain.

Acanthosis nigricans is a disease can be a sign of high insulin resistance. The condition was first described in 1890 and it is known types: