It can be very frustrating if you’ve been told that you have a “dirty neck” when in fact you have a very common symptom of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) called acanthosis nigricans (pronounced: a-can-tho-sis ni-gri-cans). It’s not your fault, and all the scrubbing in the world will not make it go away. The darkened area on your neck and perhaps on other areas of your body (such as under your arms and inside your upper thighs) is due to high levels of insulin. You may be tempted to buy topical creams that claim to fade the dark patches but beware, many of these products are expensive and not effective, plus they can cause side effects such as itching. What does work is getting your insulin levels down. The best way to do this is to work towards getting to a healthier weight if overweight. It is also important to follow a low-glycemic diet, exercise and take medication prescribed by your health care provider.

For more info on PCOS, visit our website.

-Phaedra