India, April 17 -- Dark patches on the skin are an increasingly common condition seen in people of all ages, including children. The patches usually appear in areas such as the neck and underarms and are not removed by washing or scrubbing. This makes them a health issue and not anything to do with cleanliness.

Taking to Instagram on January 10, Dr Tejasvi Sheshadri, a paediatric endocrinologist and health content creator based in Bengaluru, shared what the patches mean when they appear in children and why they are a serious cause of concern.

In Dr Sheshadri's words, "If your child has darkening of the skin around the back of the neck or in the axillary region, then it is a cause of concern. This is called acanthosis nigricans. It is a ...