Acanthosis Nigricans and the Metabolic Syndrome

The document from 2018 discusses Acanthosis nigricans (AN), a skin condition linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, with varying prevalence among ethnic groups. AN serves as a clinical marker for identifying patients at risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, but its correlation with these conditions requires further study. The classification of AN includes obesity-associated, endocrinologic, monogenic, multigenic, paraneoplastic, drug-induced, and indeterminate subtypes, with specific syndromes like HAIR-AN syndrome also mentioned. Treatment options like retinoids and metformin show promise, but controlled studies are lacking, and the impact of lifestyle changes on AN is not well understood. The document highlights the need for large-scale studies to validate AN as a predictor of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes and suggests research into insulin/IGF-1 and other signaling pathways to improve understanding and treatment of AN.