What is a velvety rash?
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition characterized by areas of dark, velvety discoloration in body folds and creases. The affected skin can become thickened. Most often, acanthosis nigricans affects your armpits, groin and neck.
Can acanthosis nigricans go away?
It is reversible and will disappear as the cause is treated. There are cosmetic options if acanthosis nigricans is severe or not being managed by weight loss. Treatments include laser therapy, topical retinoids, and dermabrasion.
Does acanthosis nigricans always mean diabetes?
Acanthosis nigricans is a treatable skin condition that causes dark patches on your body. It is often (though not always) a sign of prediabetes or diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you have an underlying condition causing AN.
What can cause acanthosis?
Acanthosis nigricans skin patches occur when epidermal skin cells begin to reproduce rapidly. This abnormal skin cell growth is most commonly triggered by high levels of insulin in the blood. In rare cases, the increase in skin cells may be caused by medications, cancer, or other medical conditions.
What’s velvety mean?
Definition of velvety 1 : having the character of velvet as in being soft, smooth, thick, or richly hued velvety hair a velvety green pasture. 2 : smooth to the taste : mild a velvety wine.
Does losing weight help acanthosis nigricans?
Losing weight People who have acanthosis nigricans as a result of obesity or insulin resistance may find that their skin improves once they lose weight. Weight loss may improve skin texture, but the discoloration can remain.
What is dirty neck syndrome?
Also known as Zinsser-Engman-Cole syndrome, dyskeratosis congenita causes hyperpigmentation of the skin of the neck. The neck may look dirty. In addition to dark patches on the neck, the condition can cause white patches inside the mouth, ridging of the fingernails, and sparse eyelashes.
Can acanthosis nigricans go away with weight loss?
Losing weight will help acanthosis nigricans fade. If you’re concerned about your weight, talk to your doctor before going on a diet. Doctors may prescribe creams or lotions that can help lighten the skin. But most of the time, acanthosis nigricans doesn’t need treatment.
What is velvety appearance?
If you describe something as velvety, you mean that it is pleasantly soft to touch and has the appearance or quality of velvet. The grass grew thick and velvety. I rubbed the velvety grooves inside the calf’s ears. Synonyms: soft, smooth, downy, delicate More Synonyms of velvety.
What is velvety texture?
1. velvet-textured – smooth and soft to sight or hearing or touch or taste. velvet, velvety. smooth – having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities; “smooth skin”; “a smooth tabletop”; “smooth fabric”; “a smooth road”; “water as smooth as a mirror”