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Darkening or blackening of skin can be a sign of Acanthosis Nigricans.Generally mocked and ignored as the lack of hygiene and proper bath, Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin condition characterized by dark, velvety patches in body folds and creases.Acanthosis nigricans is a brown to black, poorly defined, velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin. It is usually found in body folds, such as the posterior and lateral folds of the neck, the armpits, groin, navel, forehead, and other areas.Children who develop the condition are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.Rarely, Acanthosis nigricans can be a warning sign of a cancerous tumor in an internal organ, such as the stomach or liver.It is a very common disorder especially in Indians, More than 10 million cases per year are diagnosed of Acanthosis (In India)Symptoms:Requires a medical diagnosisDark, velvety patches of skin often appear in the armpits, groin and neck.Sometimes the skin may be itchy.Causes of Acanthosis NigricansThe most common cause of acanthosis nigricans is being very overweight.Other causes include:Type 2 diabetesConditions that affect hormone levels – such as Cushing's syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome or an underactive thyroidTaking certain medicines – including steroids or hormone treatments like the contraceptive pillIn rare cases, cancer – usually stomach cancer or gastric adenocarcinomaIn rare cases, a faulty gene inherited from your parentsadrenal gland disorders, such as Addison’s diseasedisorders of the pituitary glandlow levels of thyroid hormoneshigh doses of niacinSometimes Acanthosis Nigricans happens in healthy people with no other conditions. This is more common in people with dark skin.Too much insulinThe most frequent trigger for acanthosis nigricans is too much insulin in your bloodstream.Overweight people tend to develop resistance to insulin over time. Although the pancreas is making insulin, the body can’t use it properly. This creates a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, which can result in high levels of both blood glucose and insulin in your bloodstream.Excess insulin causes normal skin cells to reproduce at a rapid rate. For those with dark skin, these new cells have more melanin. This increase in melanin produces a patch of skin that’s darker than the skin surrounding it. Thus, the presence of acanthosis nigricans is a strong predictor of future diabetes. If too much insulin is indeed the cause, it’s relatively easy to correct with proper diet, exercise, and blood sugar control.CONTROL YOUR HEART BEATS!How is acanthosis nigricans treated?Acanthosis nigricans isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom of another condition that may require medical attention. Treatment is largely focused on addressing the condition that’s causing it. If you’re overweight, your doctor will advise you to lose weight. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to help bring your blood glucose under control.If the condition is caused by medications or supplements, your doctor may have you discontinue them or suggest substitutes. The discolored skin patches will usually fade when you find the cause and get it under control.Summary-Acanthosis is generally a disorder in which body develops a resistance to insulin. It is mainly due to obesity.Acanthosis is like an alarming bell for prediabetes and future diabetes.Acanthosis can generally be treated with weight loss and healthier lifestyle.The first and foremost step to be taken in case of any doubt is to see a doctor, endocrinologist to be specific.Below are images of some more symptoms of Acanthosis on skin-Graphic Image ahead-Stay safe and healthyTyche’sP.S. I request everyone to share this answer so that more and more people can be made aware about this disorder.Content Source:Apollo Hospital-StatisticsAcanthosis nigricansAcanthosis nigricans - Symptoms and causesAcanthosis Nigricans: Treatment, Pictures, and CausesAcanthosis nigricans - Wikipediaacanthosis nigricans - Google SearchImages Source:Acanthosis Nigricans: Treatment, Pictures, and CausesAcanthosis Nigricans- Google Images

Don't smoke. If you've started stop, immediatelyDiseased Pictures.com.Do you like lying in the sun?Think you look great with a tan? Maybe you go to a tanning parlor?All the diamonds in world, all the monitors in the world, all the iPads in world, can't cure the stupidity of wanting a tan when you reach 69.Ask me. I'll tell you all about it. If you don't think showing you these pictures took every ounce of courage I have, then you don't know one thing about me. If you understand how much it did, then you know how much I want you to listen and how much it means to me that you do.I was stupid. I didn't listen. Do you want wrinkles and thin skin from sun damage like I have and do you want bruises from just lightly touching the side of a box and having your skin peel off?Go ahead, enjoy lying in the sun without sunblock. There was none when I was growing up but I sure as hell had a great tan.Do you think I'm not sitting here with tears in my eyes because I know you won't listen, then you know nothing about me my fellow Quorans.Don't gain weight. Exercise. Keep your weight at a normal level that's good for your body. Weight does all kinds of bad things for you body.I've been fat, I've been thin, thin is healthier.I know that everyone has their own opinion on this subject so I went to the NIH and got theirs.What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?Being overweight or obese isn't a cosmetic problem. These conditions greatly raise your risk for other health problems.Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Problems in AdultsCoronary Heart DiseaseAs your body mass index rises, so does your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque (plak) builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart.Plaque can narrow or block the coronary arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. This can cause angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) or a heart attack. (Angina is chest pain or discomfort.)Obesity also can lead to heart failure. This is a serious condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.High Blood PressureBlood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.Your chances of having high blood pressure are greater if you're overweight or obese.StrokeBeing overweight or obese can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form.If the clot is close to your brain, it can block the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain and cause a stroke. The risk of having a stroke rises as BMI increases.Type 2 DiabetesDiabetes is a disease in which the body's blood glucose, or blood sugar, level is too high. Normally, the body breaks down food into glucose and then carries it to cells throughout the body. The cells use a hormone called insulin to turn the glucose into energy.In type 2 diabetes, the body's cells don't use insulin properly. At first, the body reacts by making more insulin. Over time, however, the body can't make enough insulin to control its blood sugar level.Diabetes is a leading cause of early death, CHD, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. Most people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.Abnormal Blood FatsIf you're overweight or obese, you're at increased risk of having abnormal levels of blood fats. These include high levels of triglycerides and LDL ("bad") cholesterol and low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol.Abnormal levels of these blood fats are a risk factor for CHD. For more information about triglycerides and LDL and HDL cholesterol, go to the Health Topics High Blood Cholesterol article.Metabolic SyndromeMetabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.You can develop any one of these risk factors by itself, but they tend to occur together. A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made if you have at least three of the following risk factors:A large waistline. This is called abdominal obesity or "having an apple shape." Having extra fat in the waist area is a greater risk factor for CHD than having extra fat in other parts of the body, such as on the hips.A higher than normal triglyceride level (or you're on medicine to treat high triglycerides).A lower than normal HDL cholesterol level (or you're on medicine to treat low HDL cholesterol).Higher than normal blood pressure (or you're on medicine to treat high blood pressure).Higher than normal fasting blood sugar (or you're on medicine to treat diabetes).CancerBeing overweight or obese raises your risk for colon, breast, endometrial, and gallbladder cancers.OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis is a common joint problem of the knees, hips, and lower back. The condition occurs if the tissue that protects the joints wears away. Extra weight can put more pressure and wear on joints, causing pain.Sleep ApneaSleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.A person who has sleep apnea may have more fat stored around the neck. This can narrow the airway, making it hard to breathe.Obesity Hypoventilation SyndromeObesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a breathing disorder that affects some obese people. In OHS, poor breathing results in too much carbon dioxide (hypoventilation) and too little oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia).OHS can lead to serious health problems and may even cause death.Reproductive ProblemsObesity can cause menstrual issues and infertility in women.GallstonesGallstones are hard pieces of stone-like material that form in the gallbladder. They're mostly made of cholesterol. Gallstones can cause stomach or back pain.People who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of having gallstones. Also, being overweight may result in an enlarged gallbladder that doesn't work well.Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Problems in Children and TeensOverweight and obesity also increase the health risks for children and teens. Type 2 diabetes once was rare in American children, but an increasing number of children are developing the disease.Also, overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese as adults, with the same disease risks.The best things you can do at age thirty to be great at 50 or 69 are all of the above and laugh, laugh, laugh. Laugh at yourself, laugh at the absurdity of life, laugh at the goodness and the badness of every situation because guess what, everything changes so don't worry as much as you do.If you could see me now, I'm down on my poor, crackling knees begging you to at least consider stopping smoking, stopping tanning and starting to lose weight and exercise. I'm asking you to do this with all my heart.

Here are some surprising facts about diabetes that you probably did not know:Diabetes can make you lose the ability to feel pain in your feet. Due to the nerve damage caused by diabetes, your feet might feel numb, and you wouldn’t be able to notice a blister or a cut that won’t heal.2. Not everyone who has diabetes has been diagnosed yet. 7.3 million people in the US are believed to have diabetes but are not diagnosed with it. You can take the quiz to get your diabetes risk evaluated:MyDiabetes3. People with diabetes do not have to eliminate all desserts from their menu. While you have to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels, living with diabetes doesn’t mean living without treats. It might take a bit of planning, but you can enjoy your favorite desserts from time to time with the right attitude.MyDiabetes4. There are two most common types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed for younger people, and it requires daily insulin doses. Unfortunately, you cannot prevent or cure Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults and can be treated without daily insulin injections. The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, that is the least common and develops in women during pregnancy.5. Type 2 diabetes can be managed and even reversed without medication. It might require some hardcore lifestyle changes, but if you reach your optimal weight and stabilize your sugar levels, you might get diabetes under control.Learn how to tame diabetes at MyDiabetes.dietWe are all in this together!