What are the cutaneous features of acromegaly?

Acromegaly is the result of excess pituitary growth hormone present after puberty. Bone thickening is prominent and results in coarse facies and enlarged hands. The skin changes are the result of the production of insulin-like growth factors and, thus, overlap with changes due to insulin resistance. The skin is hypertrophied and thickened, and acanthosis nigricans may be present. These changes may be accentuated on the scalp as whorled furrowing (cutis vertices gyrata) in 30% of patients.

Centurión SA, Schwartz RA: Cutaneous signs of acromegaly, Int J Dermatol 41:631–634, 2002.