The number of fat girls with annoying acanthosis nigricans is 6.6 times that of fat men

There is a rough and dark line on the skin of my neck. Could it be that I didn’t wash it thoroughly after taking a shower? It may not be dirty skin, but "acanthosis nigricans" caused by obesity! Domestic research shows that the incidence of acanthosis nigricans in obese patients is as high as 15%, with women being 6.6 times more likely to be affected than men. Doctors remind the public that if acanthosis nigricans develops, it may be caused by obesity or metabolic syndrome, and that the patient should seek medical attention as soon as possible, as the condition can be improved through treatment and weight loss.

Domestic research shows that obese women are 6.6 times more likely to develop acanthosis nigricans than obese men.

Fat young women are prone to acanthosis nigricans

Xiao Dunren, vice president of the Obesity Research Society of the Republic of China, who specializes in weight loss medicine, and Wu Jiahong, a family medicine physician, conducted a research analysis on 390 patients who visited the weight loss clinic from May 2011 to August 2012. They found that 15% of the patients had symptoms of acanthosis nigricans. Among them, young age, female, thick neck circumference, large waist circumference, obese parents, and insulin resistance are all risk factors for acanthosis nigricans.

The research results found that among all the subjects, the average age of those suffering from acanthosis nigricans was 31 years old, and the average age of those without acanthosis nigricans was 40 years old, which means that young people are more likely to suffer from acanthosis nigricans. Further analysis of the data found that the risk of onset decreased by 7% for every additional year of age.

The study also found that obese women are 6.6 times more likely to develop acanthosis nigricans than obese men; for every 1 cm increase in neck circumference, the risk of acanthosis nigricans increases by 17%; for every 1 cm increase in waist circumference, the risk increases by 13%; and for those with insulin resistance, the risk of developing acanthosis nigricans is 3.7 times that of the general obese population.

Acanthosis nigricans is common in obese adolescent girls. Does this mean that young women are more likely to gain weight than men of the same age due to the influence of hormones? Dr. Xiao Dunren said that it is still impossible to confirm at this time.

In patients with acanthosis nigricans, a dark, fuzzy lesion can often be seen on the skin behind the neck. (Photo provided by Dr. Xiao Dunren)

Eliminate acanthosis nigricans Doctor: Lose weight!

Since the formation of acanthosis nigricans is related to insulin, such patients are often also patients with metabolic syndrome such as obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. Dr. Xiao Dunren said that the best way to eliminate acanthosis nigricans is to lose weight. If people's BMI exceeds 27 and their neck also has symptoms of acanthosis nigricans, they should start to actively control their weight and see a doctor as soon as possible to treat diseases such as diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

【Small dictionary: Acanthosis nigricans】

Acanthosis nigricans is a condition caused by insulin resistance, which leads to increased insulin secretion, skin irritation and keratin hyperplasia. It looks like black hair that cannot be washed away, and is often mistaken for a body condition that is not clean. Acanthosis nigricans often occurs in body folds such as the neck, elbows, knees and armpits.

★ "Slimming Down by Eating" 6 Materials Recommended by Traditional Chinese Medicine