[FreeBird3]

I'd like to get someone's opinion about some darks spots that appear on the front of my neck. I do not have diabetes (I took my A1C test 2 months ago and was in the normal range, though very close to falling into the pre-diabetes range). These spots are only on the front of my neck. There are no other dark spots on my body.

I've been getting dark spots on my neck since 2008. I went to a dermatoligist a few years ago when I first noticed a dark spot, but all she said was there was no cure and she prescribed me a tropical/skin lightening cream to use if it bothered me.

These particular dark sports just recently appears about 7 weeks ago and I've never seen an outbreak like this one so bad. They don't itch, but they are really dark. When they first appear, the skin is flakey...but the flakeyness (sp?) disappears a few hours after the dark spot appears. It's very strange.

I don't use soap on my neck for fear of making the dark spots worst and I haven't change laundry detergent or anything of that sort. I can't figure out why they are occuring. As far as I know, I do not have any food allergeries and I stay out of the sun most of the time. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so it's not like I get much sun to begin with. I didn't have dark spots show up until just a few years ago.

Any ideas? It's more of a psychological trama for me than anything else. I am able to hide these spots for now since the weather is still cool/cold and I can wear turtleneck shirts and sweathers. However, when spring and summer come, I do not know how I'm going to be able to hide these dark spots.

Any suggetions on what to do? Has anyone experienced this? Any insight on this situation is greatly appreciated!

Dark Spots on My Neck

[Rainbowgirl]

Kind of reminds me of acanthosis nigricans, but usually it's in skin folds.

I'd definitely talk to another doctor.

[Rana]

Originally Posted by Rainbowgirl

Kind of reminds me of acanthosis nigricans, but usually it's in skin folds.

I'd definitely talk to another doctor.

This is definitely time to go to a endocrinologist, preferably a reproductive one (because they know women!).

It is probably AN, and getting in the neck is a very common area. I get it too but rarely in the neck and it's usually a sign of pre-pre-diabetes and IR.

Get yourself checked out, not only because it's unattractive, but also because it means you need to start dealing with your blood sugar levels.

[sontaikle]

I had similar spots on my neck and I found that with weight loss they went away. Yours look different than mine, but what you described was almost exactly what I had.

I never went to the doctor, but I remember reading that it had to do with being pre-diabetic (or close to it) and considering that diabetes runs on both sides of my family, it was enough to scare me into thinking about my weight (although I didn't do anything until a year later).

I never got checked out at a doctor, but if you have the means to I would suggest that you go to another one.

[Melokoton]

Agree with the other posters. I had it really bad under my arms (armpits), and on both sides & back of my neck. Since I started losing weight those areas have gotten significantly lighter. I still have darkness on the back of my neck which I'm really self-conscious about, but in due time that will fade away.

[FreeBird3]

Thank you all for your input. I am going to make an appointment first thing tomorrow morning with an endocrinologist. Or should I go to a primary care physician before going to a specialist?

I'm definitely boardline pre-diabetic. However, I didn't initially think it could be acanthosis nigricans based off all the pictures I saw on Google. Specifically, these dark spots are mostly at the front base of my neck...on the collar bone area. The pictures I saw looked more like dark circles that went around the entire neck and not just some patchy spots at the front of the neck.

If it indeed acanthosis nigricans, then what am I in store for? Will the doctor put me in drugs right away? I'm going home after work and doing at least 1 hour of cardio no matter what. Nothing like putting the scare of getting diabetes to get my butt on the gym.

Thanks again! I wish I had challenged that determatoligist back in 2008 instead of taking her word for just being some harmless dark spots.