Hyderabad Doctors Report Rise in Acanthosis Nigricans Cases Linked to Obesity

Doctors in Hyderabad are reporting a noticeable increase in cases of acanthosis nigricans among children, adolescents, and adults. Health experts noted that the condition, which causes dark, thick, and velvety patches of skin around the neck, underarms, and other body folds, serves as a crucial early warning sign for insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and Type-2 diabetes driven by rising obesity rates.

Medical practitioners stated that while the skin condition can occasionally be connected to certain cancers, the cases currently being diagnosed are predominantly linked to metabolic disorders and excess weight. People with acanthosis nigricans face a significantly higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.

In one recent case in the city, a nine-year-old obese boy presented with a dark patch on his neck that his family had initially assumed to be accumulated dirt. The child led a sedentary lifestyle and frequently consumed processed snacks and sugary beverages. Diagnostic tests confirmed elevated fasting blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Following clinical counselling, dietary modifications, and regular exercise, his blood sugar levels normalised and the pigmentation gradually diminished, according to senior endocrinologist Dr Ravi Shanker.

Dr B Narahari, paediatrician and president of the Telangana Government Doctors' Association (TGGDA), advised parents against dismissing sudden darkening of the neck as a cosmetic issue or dirt. He emphasised that when observed in an overweight child, the symptom requires a formal medical evaluation, including blood sugar tests.

Explaining the underlying mechanism, Dr Shanker noted that insulin resistance prompts the body to produce higher quantities of insulin. The excess insulin stimulates skin cells, resulting in localized thickening and hyperpigmentation. While the condition does not confirm diabetes on its own, it functions as a vital clinical clue.

According to NFHS-5 data, 40.2 percent of men and 41.7 percent of women in urban Telangana are overweight or obese, with elevated blood sugar levels identified in 21.4 percent of urban men and 18.4 percent of urban women. A 2026 study of urban Hyderabad similarly recorded obesity among 37 percent of adults and 44 percent of elderly participants.

Dermatologist Dr Karishni Chittarvu, former general secretary of the Telangana Senior Doctors' Association (TSRDA), reported consulting five to six patients with the condition daily. While most patients are aged between 15 and 25 years, she is increasingly seeing children under 10 years old with obesity and severe blood sugar abnormalities requiring endocrinology referrals.

Doctors recommended that affected individuals engage in brisk walking for at least 20 minutes daily, aim for 5,000 steps, adopt a calorie-controlled, high-protein diet, and target a 10 percent reduction in body weight. They strongly cautioned patients against using bleaching creams or aggressively scrubbing the affected skin.