是一种可以反映潜在身体状况的良性的皮肤疾病。
阅读更多大多数情况下与肥胖及高胰岛素血症相关。
一些病例与潜在的恶性肿瘤相关，当没有其他相关证据出现时，通过完整的病史查体和相关的诊断性试验可以研究恶性肿瘤的情况。
除非皮损面积过大或是影响面容美观及潜在疾病的治疗不能使皮损恢复，一般情况下对于皮损本身的治疗都是不必要的。
黑棘皮病（AN）是一种临床表现为对称性、肥厚性、乳头瘤状生长、触之柔软且有过度色素沉着的皮肤疾病，通常出现在皮肤皱褶或摩擦部位。[1]Matsuoka LY, Wortsman J, Goldman J. Acanthosis nigricans. Clin Dermatol. 1993 Jan-Mar;11(1):21-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8339195?tool=bestpractice.com
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 一位肥胖的白人女性患者，腋下有黑棘皮病累及由Melvin Chiu,MD提供 [Citation ends].
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 黑棘皮病累及一位肥胖黑人女性的后背及上臂由Miguel Gutierrez,MD提供 [Citation ends].本病的发生与很多因素相关，受遗传因素影响的黑棘皮病 (Acanthosis nigricans, AN) 有可能在生后或是幼年时期即发病。[2]Schwartz RA. Acanthosis nigricans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Jul;31(1):1-19.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8021347?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Curth HO. Classification of acanthosis nigricans. Int J Dermatol. 1976 Oct;15(8):592-3.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/971978?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Curth HO. Unilateral epidermal nevus resembling acanthosis nigricans. Br J Dermatol. 1976 Oct;95(4):433-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/974030?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Berk DR, Spector EB, Bayliss SJ. Familial acanthosis nigricans due to K650T FGFR3 mutation. Arch Dermatol. 2007 Sep;143(9):1153-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17875876?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Ersoy-Evans S, Sahin S, Mancini AJ, et al. The acanthosis nigricans form of epidermal nevus. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Oct;55(4):696-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17010754?tool=bestpractice.com但是，最常与肥胖和胰岛素抵抗状态有关。[2]Schwartz RA. Acanthosis nigricans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Jul;31(1):1-19.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8021347?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Brickman WJ, Binns HJ, Jovanovic BD, et al. Acanthosis nigricans: a common finding in overweight youth. Pediatr Dermatol. 2007 Nov-Dec;24(6):601-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18035980?tool=bestpractice.com[8]American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Diabetes Care. 2000 Mar;23(3):381-9.http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/reprint/23/3/381http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868870?tool=bestpractice.com肥胖相关的黑棘皮病好发因素包括持续增加的BMI、女性、西班牙或黑人种族。[7]Brickman WJ, Binns HJ, Jovanovic BD, et al. Acanthosis nigricans: a common finding in overweight youth. Pediatr Dermatol. 2007 Nov-Dec;24(6):601-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18035980?tool=bestpractice.com[8]American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Diabetes Care. 2000 Mar;23(3):381-9.http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/reprint/23/3/381http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868870?tool=bestpractice.com与恶性肿瘤相关的 AN 罕见，最常与胃腺癌伴发，但也可能与其他癌症和淋巴瘤相关。[9]Moore RL, Devere TS. Epidermal manifestations of internal malignancy. Dermatol Clin. 2008 Jan;26(1):17-29.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18023768?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Curth HO. Cancer associated with acanthosis nigricans: a review of the literature and report of a case of acanthosis nigricans with cancer of the breast. Arch Surg. 1943 Dec;47(6):517-52.
