DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i12.059

Pages: 4499-4502

Acanthosis nigricans, which is characterised by diffuse velvety thickening and hyperpigmentation of mainly the flexural skin, can result from a variety of causes. The most commonly encountered one is the benign a result from little understood reaction of the skin to underlying metabolic faults and is generally seen in obese individuals or in association with endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovary syndrome), drugs, and malignancy. It also serves as a marker for Metabolic Syndrome X. Table 1 Diagnosis is usually made by the clinical appearance of affected skin. Histology when performed demonstrates basket weave pattern hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, with mild hyperpigmentation of basal cell layer without any significant dermal changes. Although a lot is known regarding the association and pathogenesis of a but we are left with very little option when it comes to its management part. Very often we fail to provide much solace to the poor patient who is solely concerned with mitigating or at least lessening the physical disfigurement caused by hyperpigmentary changes. Pigmentation of AN has been proposed to be due to the hyperkeratosis with other factors playing little or no role. We conducted this study to find out if melanin does play any role in the pigmentary changes associated with the disorder, which will open newer prospects for management. Thus we want to establish that hyperkeratosis is not the sole element in pigmentation.