Acanthosis Nigricans affects both males and females of all ages, with people over  40 years old typically being more affected. The skin on your neck tends to get dark because of consistent sun exposure, hormones, and other skin concerns. The black or dark neck condition usually thickens your skin. Black/dark neck or Acanthosis Nigricans is a condition in which the neck skin surrounding your neck looks visibly darker than the skin of other body parts.

 A dark neck indicates an internal health issue and can be a prominent aesthetic concern if not treated effectively. With our advanced dark neck treatment, you can get rid of it. At CNF in Bengaluru, our doctor checks your skin and decides the right treatment to deliver the desired results.

Causes and Risk Factors

Here are the key causes of dark neck:

Lichen Planus Pigmentosus (LPP)

LPP is a chronic pigmentation disease, which reflects dark brown or reticulate hyperpigmented areas on your neck, face, and flexural folds.  
Hypothyroidism Acanthosis Nigricans disorder develops dark patches on your neck skin, which indicates hypothyroid or weight gain. Such disorders in critical condition may deeply darken your neck skin. 

Obesity 

Being obese with an endocrine disorder can be one of the reasons to get darker skin on your neck.

PCOS

Females with PCOS have an increased level of insulin and hormone in their blood. The excess level of insulin in your blood may cause dark patches on the skin of your neck, groin area, and underarms. 

Prediabetes

Dark patches of skin on your neck and backside can be a symptom of prediabetes. So, you maybe a diabetic patient if your neck area looks dark for years. 

Insulin Resistance 

A dark/black neck indicates excess insulin in the blood. If your neck area looks darker than other body parts, you should check your blood sugar level and consult a diabetologist. 

Allergies to Certain Products

Sometimes, people get dark necks only because they are allergic to certain products they apply to their skin. So, you should always apply any product on a small portion for a test patch. Then, wait for at least 2 days to confirm you aren’t allergic to such products. 

Genetics

Dark skin in the neck area can be the outcome of a disease called Acanthosis Nigricans. Besides darkening the skin, this disorder develops velvety hyperpigmentation on your skin. This skin condition can be a genetic syndrome or hereditary, which is passed from parents to their children.  

Poor Hygiene

Dermatitis Neglect is a skin disorder, which occurs when you don’t wash or scrub your skin well. It causes sweat and gathers bacteria and oil that build waxy scales and flaky skin. It gets severe in 2 to 4 months with improper cleaning. You can easily treat Dermatitis Neglect by scrubbing your dark neck with soapy water and following a proper personal hygiene routine. 

Hormonal Imbalance

Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH) is the inherent hormone that triggers the melanocytes. MSH boosts melanin production which darkens your skin. 

Aging

With aging, the cells in your skin produce less melanin. However, the existing cells in your skin get larger and more concentrated. This type of dysregulation causes hyperpigmentation and darkness in your neck. 

Preventative Measures and Lifestyle Changes

With the right preventative measures and lifestyle changes, you can remove the darkness in your neck area.

Daily Skincare Routine for Prevention

Here are the daily skincare tips you should follow to prevent dark spots:

Clean Your Neck Everyday

Cleaning your neck when bathing with a cleanser containing such acids can enhance your skin. Many OTC products contain skin-tightening ingredients, such as vitamins C and E. Vitamin C lightens pigmentation, and Vitamin E moisturizes your skin. 

Exfoliate Your Skin

Everyday exfoliation with AHAs and BHAs brightens, softens, and smooths your skin. They remove the dead cells, reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and dead cells, and improve the overall skin quality of your neck. OTC products containing glycolic and salicylic acids in various strengths are safe for your skin. 

Hydrate and Moisturize Your Skin

Hydration adds softness to your skin and boosts cell turnover, which makes your neck area look brighter. Before sleeping at night, you can clean your neck skin area, apply a toner, and then lotion or cream. Water-based moisturizers can be effective if your skin is extremely oily.  

Use Topical Retinoids

The application of retinoids can reduce the appearance of dark skin on your neck. Apply retinoids only at night until your skin gets used to them which usually takes 1 to 1.5   months. You can start with using low-strength counter retinoids at least 2 to 3 times a week. 

Then, you can slowly increase the frequency and strength of retinoids. Take isotretinoin, i.e., oral retinoids, if you have very critical acne. 

Follow a Healthy Diet and Hydrate Yourself

Following a healthy diet, including green vegetables and fruits, can improve the skin tone and texture of your neck. They contain natural skin-lightening ingredients. You can take nutritional supplements, such as Vitamin B, C, E, and Omega 3 fatty acids as they can keep your skin healthy. 

Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day to hydrate and moisturize your skin. 

The Importance of Sun Protection to Prevent  Dark Neck 

Prolonged sun exposure tans and burns the skin of your neck, decreases skin elasticity, and causes premature aging. Too much sun exposure may also cause skin cancer. As you prevent hyperpigmentation caused due to UV ray exposure, your neck skin lightens itself as the cells regenerate and other treatments also brighten the skin. Protection against sun damage is crucial to lighten your skin.

 Apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to protect your skin against harsh UVA and UVB rays. Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen after every 3 to 4 hours on your neck and face. Carry an umbrella or wear a big hat for extra protection against the sun. Avoid being outside in the afternoon as the sun’s rays are the harshest