Acanthosis Nigricans and the Metabolic Syndrome
September 2017
in “
Clinics in Dermatology
”
New to Metformin? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → 
Studysummary This article reviews the clinical and histological features of acanthosis nigricans and its associations with insulin resistance and other conditions, but highlights the need for more research on its classification, severity assessment, and treatment options.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
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.
