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00:18Dark or thickened patches of skin around the neck, under the arms or even on the face may be more
00:23than just a cosmetic concern.
00:25It could be a condition known as acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition that in some cases may signal an underlying
00:32health issue.
00:34Consultant dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology Skin and Care Center, Dr. Alia Ali, says the condition is seen locally and is
00:42characterized by distinctive changes in the skin.
00:45Patients develop thickened, velvety patches of skin and it's usually behind the neck, on the sides of the neck.
00:52Patients can develop it as well under the arms, it can happen on the knuckles, you might even see it
00:58on the face.
00:59While the condition can affect people of different ages, Dr. Ali says she has noticed an increase in children.
01:06She explains that excess weight can contribute to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body's cells do not respond
01:13properly to insulin.
01:15This, she says, can trigger the skin changes associated with acanthosis.
01:19Within recent years, I've been seeing it more in childhood, so younger and younger patients have acanthosis now.
01:26And I think it has a lot to do with more of a sedentary lifestyle.
01:31Honestly, I think post-COVID, you know, children, they've been on their computers a lot in school with, you know,
01:36virtually.
01:37So because of that, there's more childhood obesity and that insulin resistance leads to acanthosis.
01:44But being overweight is not the only risk factor.
01:48Dr. Ali says acanthosis can also affect people who are slim, has a family history, hormonal conditions, and certain medications
01:56among the possible contributing factors.
01:59She says the skin condition can sometimes be an early indication of insulin resistance, which may exist for years before
02:05diabetes develops.
02:06The bodies are really an amazing thing, right?
02:10So you can have insulin resistance for years before you have diabetes.
02:16So not because you have acanthosis means that you will develop diabetes, but it is a warning sign.
02:22And I want everybody to know that, you know, your skin is basically a window into what's going on inside
02:27of you.
02:28So what can people do?
02:29The diet is especially important with acanthosis.
02:33It's because of how the body responds to carbohydrates, etc.
02:38And having a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle as well will improve it.
02:43It'll be like the Mediterranean diet, something high in olive oil, you know, fishy foods as well.
02:49But lifestyle changes are not the only treatment option.
02:52Dr. Ali says medical treatment may also involve prescription creams and certain procedures depending on the patient's needs.
03:00We're going to treat the insulin resistance as well as topically.
03:05And topically, you can use prescription creams, and that's like prescription shretinoin cream, as well as we can do chemical
03:12peels.
03:12But I will only do this while the patient is also following a lifestyle and a dietary pattern.
03:19I am Charlotte Kisto with tonight's Health Watch.
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