Skin Disorders in Overweight and Obese Patients and Their Relationship With Insulin
February 2014
in “
Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas
”
Studysummary This study found that acanthosis nigricans and skin tags in nondiabetic, obese patients were significantly associated with higher insulin levels, suggesting they may serve as clinical markers of hyperinsulinemia. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
In 2014, a study involving 109 nondiabetic overweight and obese patients (83.5% female, mean age 38, mean BMI 39.6 kg/m²) found a high prevalence of skin disorders associated with obesity and insulin levels. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) was present in 97% of patients, skin tags in 77%, keratosis pilaris in 42%, and plantar hyperkeratosis in 38%. The study revealed statistically significant associations between the severity of obesity and the presence of AN, skin tags, and plantar hyperkeratosis. Moreover, the number of skin tags, the neck severity score of AN, and the distribution of AN were significantly correlated with insulin levels. The study concluded that AN and skin tags are clinical markers of hyperinsulinemia in obese patients without diabetes.
