Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of acanthosis nigricans

Dark, velvety patches

If you have a canthosis nigricans, you'll have thickened, brownish-grey or black patches of skin.

The patches will be dry and rough, feeling similar to velvet. They may also be itchy.

These patches may occur anywhere, butare usually seen around the neck, in the armpit, around the groin and sometimes in other skin folds. Occasionally, the skin over the joints of the fingers and toes may be affected, as well as the lips, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

The patches usually develop slowly over time. Patches that grow and spread quickly are more likely to be associated with cancer. In these cases, the mouth, tongue, throat, nose and wind pipe may also be affected.

Tiny growths on the skin

You may also have lots of tiny finger-like growths from the patches. This is known as papillomatosis.

There may also be skin tags around the affected area. These are small flesh-coloured or pigmented growths that hang off the skin and look a bit like warts .

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 18 Jan 2018