Skin Manifestations of Insulin Resistance: From a Biochemical Stance to a Clinical Diagnosis and Management

The document from December 5, 2016, reviews the skin manifestations of insulin resistance, such as acrochordons, acanthosis nigricans, androgenetic alopecia, acne, and hirsutism, which serve as clinical indicators of underlying metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes. It highlights the importance of recognizing these conditions for early metabolic evaluation and intervention. The document details the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment options for these skin conditions, including lifestyle changes, medications like finasteride, dutasteride, and topical minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia, and various treatments for hirsutism and acne associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It emphasizes that these skin manifestations are reliable, non-invasive indicators of insulin resistance and that clinicians should assess patients' metabolic status and counsel on lifestyle interventions. The document is a review of existing literature and does not report new experimental data.