Acanthosis Nigricans

Posted by Lynn Maarouf

Have You Seen A Darkening of the Skin at the Back of the Neck ?

Lynn Maarouf,MS,RD,CDE
The Stark Diabetes Center
Galveston, Texas

If you have seen a dark shading on the skin on the back of someone's neck, you may be looking at a condition called:

“Acanthosis Nigricans”

Often, this skin condition can be a sign of Type 2 diabetes.

In a child it can signal higher than normal insulin levels, a condition which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes perhaps within 10 years.

If you have seen darkening in the skin at the base of the neck, you may want to follow up with a physician. The presence of Acanthosis can signal pre-diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, or diabetes which is already there.

Type 2 Diabetes can go for years without being diagnosed, but the complications are still developing.

In both children and adults, proper diet and exercise can both go a long way in preventing the development of Type 2 Diabetes. Early diagnosis can be very important step in preventing long term complications.