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Acanthosis nigricans

Last reviewed: 11 Apr 2025
Last updated: 13 Dec 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • black or Hispanic ancestry
  • new pigmented velvety skin lesions in axillary or flexural areas
  • lesions distributed on the posterior neck, axillae, vulva, umbilicus, inner thighs, and groin
  • weight gain
  • generalized distribution
  • sudden appearance of multiple seborrheic keratoses
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • age >40 years
  • child/young adult
  • female sex
  • acrochordons (skin tags)
  • acral distribution
  • pruritus
  • mucosal or palmoplantar lesions
  • weight loss
Full details

Risk factors

  • obesity
  • insulin resistance
  • positive family history of AN or genetic syndrome
  • family history of diabetes mellitus
  • malignancy
  • medication
Full details

Diagnostic tests

Tests to consider

  • fasting blood glucose
  • fasting blood insulin
  • abdominal CT
  • skin biopsy
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

initial presentation with underlying cause

unresolved despite treatment of underlying cause, or hereditary or idiopathic

Contributors

Authors

David S. Cassarino, MD, PhD

Consultant Dermatopathologist

Southern California Permanente Medical Group

Sunset Medical Center

Los Angeles

CA

Disclosures

DSC declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr David Cassarino would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Laura Westerling for her contribution to this topic. LNW declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Christine Ko, MD

Assistant Professor of Dermatology

Department of Dermatology

Yale University

New Haven

CT

Disclosures

CK declares that she has no competing interests.

John English, MBBS, FRCP

Consultant Dermatologist

Department of Dermatology

Queen's Medical Centre

Nottingham University Hospitals

Nottingham

UK

Disclosures

JE declares that he has no competing interests.

References

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Key articles

Das A, Datta D, Kassir M, et al. Acanthosis nigricans: a review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Aug;19(8):1857-65. Abstract

Schwartz RA. Acanthosis nigricans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Jul;31(1):1-19. Abstract

Patel NU, Roach C, Alinia H, et al. Current treatment options for acanthosis nigricans. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018 Aug 7:11:407-13.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

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