title: Acne keloidalis nuchae: another cutaneous symptom of metabolic syndrome, truncal obesity, and impending/overt diabetes mellitus?
abstract: Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is an inflammatory disease related to the spectrum of keloidal scarring alopecias. No association with internal disease has been described so far. We describe a case series of four Indian patients who showed an association of AKN with acanthosis nigricans, a skin marker for the metabolic syndrome (in particular obesity). Well known risk factors for AKN such as curly hair or wearing of a helmet were not present in these patients. AKN shows some similarities to acne inversa. We propose that AKN may be considered a cutaneous marker for the metabolic syndrome but case-control studies will be necessary to validate this clinical observation. We hope that our findings will stimulate other dermatologists to search for such an association.
authors.affiliation: Diwalipura, Vadodara, India.
authors.forename: Shyam B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina
mesh_terms: D000153:Acne Keloid / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications