acanthosis nigricans

Meanings

1. A skin sign often associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes exhibiting velvety, thickened, and darkened skin and skin tags, often occurring in skin folds and the axillae.

Etymology

Via Latin ultimately from Ancient Greek ἄκανθος (ákanthos, “thorny flower”) + -ωσις (-ōsis, “state, abnormal condition, or action”) + Latin nigricans (“blackish”).