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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Dark areas on neck
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Dark areas on neck
by Silverbook4141, Dec 29, 2003 12:00AM
I hope someone can help me. I am a 30 year old white women. As far back as I can remember I've had a dark "ring" around my neck. The skin feels normal, not thick or rough, but it is really dark. I feel like I look dirty. When I was a child my mother would scrub at it but it would not go away. Everyday I wash/scrub the area but it doesn't seem to improve. I also miosturize the area after I shower. I have never been able to wear my hair up, or cut it short, because my neck looks so terrible. Have you ever heardof this? Is there anything I can do about it? ( I also have dark elbows and knees, but not nearly as bad as my neck).
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Dec 30, 2003 12:00AM
, Dec 30, 2003 12:00AM
I can't be sure without seeing you, of course, but I think you may have acanthosis nigricans. (This literally means "dark thickening.") It's pretty common and most of the time of no significance beyond appearance. I recommend that you consult a dermatologist for diagnosis and perhaps treatment with topical creams which can help smooth and lighten the skin. It's slow going, but improvement is possible.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (2)
by htm2us, Jan 24, 2004 12:00AM
silverbook- have you ever put alcohol on a cotton ball and rubbed your neck? my 29 year old son has also had this for years(i too was telling him to scrub his neck all the time) and i did not think too much of it until yesterday when he went to a dermatologist who said he had to lose some weight because that is a sign of some serious conditions like diabetes.
by fariya320, Jul 25, 2008 07:09PM
A related discussion, dark circle and dark neck was started.
