under the arms, under the breasts and the groin. I hate them! They make me look like I am dirty!
Has anyone found a way to get rid of these? I have always had them even when I was thin. But it seems like they've gotten worse as I put weight on. I don't think that losing weight will help, but I'm hoping. Has it helped for anyone else.
Has anyone found a product or something you can do to help lessen them?
Thanks for any help or info.
Blessings,
Robin
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Here’s a description of it from the Dermatologic Disease Database:
Quote:
Acanthosis Nigricans (AN)
Acanthosis nigricans is a disorder that may begin at any age. It causes velvety, light-brown-to-black, markings usually on the neck, under the arms or in the groin. Acanthosis nigricans is most often associated with being overweight.
Eating too much of the wrong foods, especially starches and sugars, raises insulin levels. Most patients with acanthosis nigricans have a high insulin level, higher than those of the same weight who don't have acanthosis nigricans. Elevated levels of insulin in most cases probably cause acanthosis nigricans. This happens when there is insulin "spillover" into the skin. This activates insulin receptors in the skin and forces it to grow abnormally. Reducing the circulating insulin by a special diet can lead to a rapid improvement of the skin problem.
When acanthosis nigricans develops in people who are not overweight, a medical work-up should be done. Rarely acanthosis nigricans is associated with a tumor. In these cases acanthosis can bee seen in extra places, such as the lips or hands and is unusually severe. Sometimes acanthosis nigricans is congenital or due to an endocrine (glandular) disorder.
I too have it - tan areas under the breasts and in my groin area and tan areas accompanied by the rough skin on the back of my neck and under my arms. I hate it, but compared to pictures I’ve seen of it, my case is mild.
I've had my spots since 10 -12 years old and never knew what they were. I remember the times I would scrub them until they were raw, and even applied bleach thinking it would lighten them. I also tried over the counter skin lightening lotions. Nothing helped.
Then three years ago this summer, I was doing some research on diabetes and found a website by accident with pictures of AN. This led me to many more web sites and eventually led me to SoulCysters. After a week of full blown research, I decided to start a low carbohydrate diet. My spots on my neck, under my arms, and under my breasts lightened up significantly after low carbing. I've also heard many women experience improvement in their spots when taking Metformin, which makes sense since it helps regulate insulin production/utilization.
Because AN is caused from internal factors (excess insulin spilling into the skin), the most logical course of treatment would be improving the bodies insulin utilization. I am most skeptical that lotions, creams, etc. would make any significant change in this condition when insulin problems are the causal factors.
Thanks for the info girls. I had actually heard of them before , I just couldn't remember the tech. word for them.
Maybe I will try and go back on my met and see if that helps. I still have plenty of it laying around. Maybe I will research some lightening cream too. I'm doing weight watcher's right now and having succes with it so I don't really want to try and low carb at this point. I try and eat healthy but don't limit carbs just choose healthier ones ex. whole grains.
I can't remember when I first noticed them but remember always having them as a teenager when I was quite thin. But like I said I think they have gotten darker as I gained weight putting on 90+ lbs since high school. So I'm hoping at least getting a healthy weight there will be some improvement.
Thanks again girls and if anyone has any other suggestions on how to lessen them please let me know.
Blessings,
Robin
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What kind of lightening lotion do ya'll use? My spots seem to be mild compared to what I see on the net & since I'm taking Met I'm hoping don't get anyworse but have seen no improvement... I would try some lightener though... Is it like the stuff they use for "age spots"? Could a dermotoligist prescribe something for this?
The only thing that I found helped was loosing weight and getting the diabetes/IR under control. Since my labs have been normal I have little darkening now as opposed to before where I just looked dirty.
Kristy
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Kristy (33) & Adam (36) & DDs Alice Kay & Amanda Kay Founding WLS DIVA - RNY 8/3/04
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That's cool! I hope mine gets better too... It's not that bad under my arms, but I hate it between my thighs.... Congrats on the WL too... YOU LOOK AWESOME!!
__________________ Me 28 ~ DS Aiden
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I have this on my groin, I've had it for years, but never knew what it was, and even though I have had several examinations down their, none of the GP's or the gyno that saw it said anything about it. Do you think it's something that I should bring up with my Dr to help with my PCOS diagnosis??
__________________ Bethwyn ~ 25 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DF Adam ~ 27 DS Bailey (Feb 2007) ~ our Soy & Metformin baby!
DS Lucas (June 2008) ~ another Metformin baby! 3 Angels in Heaven.
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I forgot to add...
Bethwyn, If you haven't officially been dx'd than I would definately add it to your list of symptoms to report to your dr to get a dx. My gyno actually commented on them during an exam. He explained at the time what they were called and said it's a part of pcos sometimes.
I have a question now. How many of us with the AN are darker complected? I have kind of olive coloring and tan easily. I was just wondering if it affected lighter complexions as much. Just curious.
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I'm pale, but now that I'm noticing it, around my eyes and my chin and around my mouth look a little bit more tanned than the rest of my face. Do you think this is a part of it too? The colouring on my groin isn't very dark either, but it does look like on of the pics I've found, just not as dark.
__________________ Bethwyn ~ 25 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DF Adam ~ 27 DS Bailey (Feb 2007) ~ our Soy & Metformin baby!
DS Lucas (June 2008) ~ another Metformin baby! 3 Angels in Heaven.
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brown, dark patches 
