Black acanthosis: what is it and how to treat

Acanthosis nigra – dermatological disease, which is manifested by thickening and darkening of the skin.

This term includes several separate pathologies: black keratosis, genodermatosis, pigment-papillary dystrophy of the skin.

Among fair-skinned people, it is quite rare, only 1% of all diseases, while in dark-skinned people this percentage reaches 13.

Until the end, the causes of occurrence have not been established, only the factors associated with the development of black acanthosis are known. About the causes, symptoms and methods of treatment tells the Internet edition estet-portal.com.

1. Causes of rare acanthosis nigricans
2. How black acanthosis manifests itself in humans
3. Diagnosis and treatment of black acanthosis

Causes of rare acanthosis nigricans

Until the end, the causes of occurrence have not been established, but it can be said for sure that the following factors have influence:

1. oncological tumors. Malignant formations cause a number of chemical changes in the body, which can also cause acanthosis;

2. heredity. Often manifested in children and is a benign variant. May develop in congenital syndromes with psychological disorders or impaired metabolism of the child;

3. endocrine diseases: obesity, insulin resistance, Addison's disease and others;

4. taking specific preparations containing estrogens and glucocorticosteroids;

Black acanthosis does not distinguish people by age. Only the causes of occurrence in different age groups differ: in young – it is most often due to obesity, heredity, taking medications, and older people – due to cancer.

There are such types of black acanthosis:

• benign – due to genetic and endocrine diseases;

• pseudo-acanthosis – develops due to obesity;

• malignant – through oncological tumors;

• drug acanthosis – develops against the background of treatment with large doses of insulin, nicotinic acid, estrogens.

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How does black acanthosis manifest in humans

The main symptoms of acanthosis nigricans caused by non-cancer cells in the body are as follows:

1. thickening, hyperpigmentation and papillary growths in the affected area. Localization of acanthosis – inguinal and axillary area, places where the knees and elbows are bent, on the back of the neck, intergluteal fold, under the breast;

2. the disease begins with a yellowish spot, which soon grows and darkens, itches;

3. accompanied by formation of genital warts, papillomas and papillary growths;

4. pain and irritation are almost always absent.

For a malignant form of acanthosis nigricans, it is typical:

• rapid formation of papillomas with severe hyperkeratosis;

• itching in affected areas;

• in half of the patients, lesions of the mucous membranes, gums, and genital organs were revealed with genital warts;

• in some cases, papillomas form on the palms, soles of the feet;

• pigmentation has a pronounced yellow, brown, gray tint.

At the first manifestations of the disease, you should contact a dermatologist. First, he examines the skin and takes a biopsy to rule out malignant acanthosis.

If the malignancy is confirmed, an MRI and ultrasound should be performed to determine the focus of the disease.

If a benign form of

has been identified, the patient is referred to an endocrinologist who, using various tests, determines what caused the disease. For the treatment of pseudoacanthosis, injections of interferon inducers and antiviral drugs are used.

Also, to increase the immunity of a person,

tonic complexes, vitamins B, C, A are prescribed. For local action, retinoids and antipsoriatic drugs containing calcipotriol, antimycotic agents, antibiotics of the macrolide group are prescribed. It is necessary to eliminate the outbreaks of the disease, as soon as they are cured, the manifestations of black acanthosis will also pass on their own.

Depending on what became the root cause of the disease, a course of treatment is prescribed. If pseudoacanthosis was caused by obesity, a person needs to get in shape, drink vitamins and the disease will disappear.

Patients may be prescribed hormone replacement therapy to eliminate inflammation, insulin if the cause is diabetes

, and antibiotics if the disease is accompanied by bacterial interference. Acanthosis nigra – a disease that arises from nowhere, for it there is no distribution by age or become. As soon as darkening appears on the body, and the formation of genital warts becomes more frequent, run to a dermatologist.

Acanthosis nigricans can be both benign and indicative of malignant tumors, so we must not hesitate. Treatment is to eliminate the root cause of the disease and the use of local drugs to eliminate the defect in the skin.

If Acanthosis nigricans is caused by

cancer cells, please be patient and have faith. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable. Skin lymphoma: causes, types, treatment

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