Screening of glucose/insulin metabolic alterations in men with multiple skin tags on the neck.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case-control study comparing metabolic abnormalities between men with and without multiple skin tags
PubMed 18397315 · doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2008.06720.x
What was done
Men with multiple (8 or more) skin tags on the neck were compared to a control group with few or no skin tags. Both groups were evaluated for clinical and laboratory markers of glucose and insulin metabolism, including basal and postprandial hyperinsulinemia, postprandial hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, or type 2 diabetes, as well as physical signs like acanthosis nigricans and waist circumference.
What was found
Skin tag counts ranged from 8 to 33 in men with normal laboratory results and 9 to 65 in those with abnormal results. Presence of 8 or more skin tags was significantly associated with basal hyperinsulinemia (p < 0.002), postprandial hyperinsulinemia (p < 0.003), and postprandial hyperglycemia (p < 0.01). Overall, 77% of the multiple skin tag group had glucose/insulin laboratory abnormalities compared to 33% of the control group. Acanthosis nigricans was present in one-third of the multiple skin tag group. Multiple skin tags had higher sensitivity (77% vs 32%) but lower specificity (68% vs 100%) than acanthosis nigricans for identifying glucose/insulin alterations. Only 15% of patients with metabolic alterations presented without any cutaneous signs (9 or more neck skin tags, acanthosis nigricans, or waist circumference greater than 95 cm).
Why it matters
Multiple neck skin tags may serve as an easily visible clinical screening clue to prompt laboratory evaluation for underlying insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total sample size (n). The study was conducted exclusively in men, limiting generalizability to women. As an observational case-control comparison, it cannot determine causality, and the abstract does not report adjustments for key confounders such as age or baseline body mass index.
Cited by
- supports Acanthosis nigricans and skin tags are strong clinical physical indicators of insulin resistance.