Dark neck is very common, particularly in people with darker skin tones. It is also more common in people with excess weight or obesity, diabetes, and/or taking certain medications (e.g., oral contraceptives).
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes a dark discoloration in body folds and creases. It typically affects the armpits, groin and neck. Acanthosis nigricans is a condition that causes areas of dark, thick velvety skin in body folds and creases. It typically affects the armpits, groin and neck.
A dark patch (or band) of velvety skin on the back of your neck, armpit, groin, or elsewhere could mean that you have too much insulin in your blood. This is often a sign of prediabetes. The medical name for this skin condition is acanthosis nigricans.
How to use: Take two tablespoons of besan (gram flour), half teaspoon lemon juice, a dash of turmeric, and some rose water (or milk). Mix all of them and form a medium consistency paste. Apply the mixture on your neck, leave it on for about fifteen minutes, and rinse with water. You can repeat this remedy twice a week.
Treating the underlying cause of acanthosis nigricans can make the dark patches of skin fade or even disappear. This can mean stopping any medicine that's causing the problem or treating diabetes and other health conditions. Losing weight will help acanthosis nigricans fade.
It is reversible and will disappear as the cause is treated. Weight loss and reversing insulin resistance are the most effective ways to eliminate the skin changes.
When should I be concerned about dark skin around the neck? Dark neck can be a symptom of an underlying health condition, so it is important to see a healthcare provider if you notice hyperpigmentation anywhere on the neck—especially if it appears suddenly.
Secretion of hormones causes the production of extra melanin in the intimate area. It makes the private area skin darker. The skin in intimate parts gets darker as you grow up. However, the sudden and excessive darkening can be due to an underlying disease or infection.
When your doctor or nurse did your exam, they pointed out a dark skin patch on your neck, armpit, under the breast or a skin crease. This dark patch is called acanthosis nigricans (AAY-can-THO-sis NIG-ruh-cans), or AN.
The skin on the neck is prone to darkening, whether due to hormones, sun exposure, or other skin-related conditions. A person whose neck darkens or turns black may also notice changes to the texture of their skin, such as thickening or feeling softer than the surrounding skin.
PCOS also leads to acanthosis nigricans which is darkening of the skin which looks like purple or black in color in the underarm, collar areas of the neck, inner thighs, around lips, under eyes and forehead. In many women the PCOS causes excessive dry or oily skin.
People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at first. They may not have symptoms for many years. According to Medlineplus.gov, early symptoms of diabetes caused by a high blood sugar level may include: Bladder, kidney, skin, or other infections that are more frequent or heal slowly.
Extreme hunger, unintended weight loss, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, irritability, and other mood changes. If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. The best way to determine if you have type 1 diabetes is a blood test.
Genetics
Dark skin around the neck can be due to a disorder called Acanthosis Nigricans. It is a condition characterized by an area of dark, velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin. And this condition can be hereditary (passed on to a child by their parents) or a part of a genetic syndrome.
The important ingredients to look out for are AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) can help reduce pigmentation, fine lines, remove excess sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. Vitamin C helps reduce skin pigmentation and nourish the skin.
Humans with dark skin pigmentation have skin naturally rich in melanin (especially eumelanin), and have more melanosomes which provide superior protection against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation. This helps the body to retain its folate reserves and protects against damage to DNA.
To help fade away uneven skin tone on the neck, support the skin's natural cell turnover processes by drinking enough water and keeping your skin hydrated. Keeping the skin hydrated helps to keep it soft and supple, which increases cell turnover - the shedding and replacement of old skin cells with new skin cells.
You can make things easy for yourself by just exfoliating your face and neck in the shower at the same time. An easy homemade scrub you can whip up in no time is brown sugar, a tiny splash of lemon and a teaspoon bit of honey. Gently massage into your skin to slough off any dead skin cells then rinse off thoroughly.
Our face skin produces more melanin compared to the rest of the body, so our face skin is generally a bit darker. The harmful rays of the sunlight can damage the melanin cells and as the face is more exposed to sunlight, it is the first to be impacted.
Will acanthosis nigricans go away on its own? AN will not go away on its own, but you don't always need medical treatment. If no underlying condition is causing AN, you can decide if you want to treat the dark patches.