Insulin Resistance and Skin Diseases
January 2015
in “The Scientific World Journal”
TLDR Insulin resistance may contribute to various skin diseases and treating it could improve skin health and prevent more serious conditions.
The 2015 document examines the connection between insulin resistance (IR) and a range of skin diseases, emphasizing that IR can influence the development and severity of conditions such as acanthosis nigricans, acne, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, androgenetic alopecia, hirsutism, alopecia areata, and vitiligo. It explains that IR leads to hyperinsulinemia, which can cause hyperandrogenism and affect skin physiology. The review suggests that skin disorders may serve as indicators of systemic diseases, and that addressing IR through dietary and metabolic interventions could improve skin conditions and prevent more serious diseases. It also discusses the use of HOMA and QUICKI to estimate insulin sensitivity and details the prevalence, appearance, classification, and treatment options for acanthosis nigricans. The document concludes with the recommendation for dermatologists to consider the potential link between cutaneous diseases and metabolic anomalies in patient management.
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