Question:
Does any one have the skin darkening around the neck area? post op does it go away?

   — trayzza (posted on August 5, 2005)

August 5, 2005
Hi Tracy! I was told by a doctor that the darken area or spots around the neck is what's called "Skin Tags" and it's possibily do to some kind of high level of sugar. I'm not sure if it clears up after surgery. I really hope so, because I have it and it's really a pain. I have this around my neck. If your not sure... check it out by your PCP.
   — Lori

August 5, 2005
My son's endo told us the darkening around his neck was a symptom of his diabetes. Have your blood glucose checked after fasting.
   — Heather H.

August 5, 2005
My son's endo told us the darkening around his neck was a symptom of his diabetes. Have your blood glucose checked after fasting.
   — Heather H.

August 6, 2005
Hi Tracy, Great name, You must be a great person! LOL! Yes baby girl the darkening does go away. I had it really bad. Especially when I was pregnant and right after. It got a little less noticiable after having my boys, but was still there. I had surgery March 3rd 2005 and within weeks my skin looked completely better. I understand it is hormonal. I can almost guareentee it will get better. I have so many comments about how much younger I look and how good my skin looks. You have that to look forward to. Take care and if you wanna talk, email me! Take care and know its all worth it! Tracy
   — LVTracy

August 6, 2005
What you have might very well be Acnthosis Nigricans. It is strongly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes or insulin resistance and other hormonal/endocrine problems. Here is a link to check out regarding it: http://www.skinsite.com/info_acanthosis_nigricans.htm. You can go to http://www.pcosupport.org/medical/whatis.php#symptoms for more info on PCOS if you think you might have that. Primarily PCOS causes infertility amongst other things. Many women who are obese have PCOS. Hopefully that will help you! As for lightening, I don't know if it will for sure, but once people get their hormones in order (by losing weight) a lot of these symptoms go away or become dormant.
   — Dinka Doo

August 6, 2005
I had both skin tags and dark areas on my neck pre-op and yes they have gone away. The skin tags stopped forming immediately after surgery and the dark areas were gone in about four or five months. As someone else posted, I was told it was due to insulin resistance.
   — scbabe

August 6, 2005
I had a few skin tags, all of which were removed pre wls, but my mother who is MO has many under her arms, around her neck, and under her breasts on her belly. I always assumed they were related to the friction of skin against skin. Never heard about it being diabetes related. I had the dark skin between my legs, but as the weight loss progressed, and there was no skin rubbing, it has gotten a lot better.
   — Fixnmyself

August 9, 2005
I had them under my stomach apron, neck, under breasts, armpits and very dark circles under my eyes. Mine were due to underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). It's a simple blood test for TSH levels.
   — Jennifer T.