Changes in the skin around the armpit can sometimes be easy to overlook. Darkened skin, thickening, or multiple small raised growths may develop gradually and may have several possible causes. Although images on social media sometimes present these changes as proof of a particular disease, a photograph alone cannot establish a diagnosis.
The skin shown in the image appears to have multiple small, raised, flesh-colored to brown growths along with darker, thicker skin in the armpit. One possibility is skin tags, also called acrochordons. Skin tags are common benign growths that frequently occur in areas where skin rubs against skin, including the neck, armpits, groin, and beneath the breasts.
Skin tags are generally harmless and are not themselves cancer. They can become more numerous with age, friction, pregnancy, or certain metabolic factors. People who are overweight or have insulin resistance may also develop multiple skin tags.
The darker, thicker skin around the armpit can have another explanation. A condition called acanthosis nigricanscauses areas of skin to become darker, thicker, and sometimes velvety. It commonly affects skin folds such as the armpits, neck, and groin.
Acanthosis nigricans can sometimes be associated with insulin resistance and conditions such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. However, its presence does not mean that someone definitely has diabetes. Hormonal conditions, medications, obesity, and other medical factors can also be associated with this skin change.
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