Skin Tags
Hi there, Do you have a small, fleshy protrusion of skin that doesn’t hurt or itch? It’s probably the same color as the rest of your body and it may be circular or oblong, usually hanging by a thin stalk. So what is this bump? It’s most likely a “skin tag”. Skin tags are very common. Let’s talk about skin tag today! What are skin tags? Skin tags are small, noncancerous, benign tumor (A benign tumor is a non-cancerous tumor. This means the tumor doesn’t invade nearby tissue or spread in the body). They are painless and connected to the skin by a small, thin stalk called peduncle. The medical name for skin tag is acrochordon, fibroepithelial polyp, cutaneous papilloma and soft fibroma. Who gets skin tags? Men and women are equally affected. They are more common as you get older. Where do skin tags occur? Skin tags can show up anywhere on the body, but are most often on the neck, armpits, groin area or upper chest (particularly under the female breasts). They can also grow on the eyelids or under the folds of the buttocks — basically on areas of the body with folds. You may have just one or two or many and they might be in isolated spots or in a group with many skin tags. What causes skin tags? It’s unclear exactly what causes skin tags, but potential causes are: • Tags are typically thought to occur where skin rubs against itself or clothing. • People who are overweight or obese are more prone to skin tags because they have more folds of skin. • Carrying extra weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and studies have shown that people with this kind of diabetes have more skin tags, as do people with high blood-sugar levels. This suggests a relationship between skin tags and the hormone insulin, which governs sugar levels in the blood. • Insulin promotes growth and it may also cause skin cells to replicate. This in turn leads to the development of skin tags, which can be an early warning sign for diabetes. • Pregnant women often develop the tags during the second trimester(The second trimester of your pregnancy is from week 13 to week 27 — roughly months four, five and six) • Skin tags are fairly common in people with Crohn’s disease (a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract and triggers side effects such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, constipation and rectal bleeding). Research shows, skin tags in people with Crohn’s tend to appear at the opening of the anus. • Skin tags have genetic connection. It isn’t unusual for multiple family members to have them. How to identify a skin tag? The main way to identify a skin tag is by the peduncle. Unlike moles and some other skin growths, skin tags hang off the skin by this small stalk. Most skin tags are tiny, typically smaller than 2 millimeters in size. Some can grow as large as several centimeters. Skin tags are soft to the touch. They may be smooth and round, or they may be wrinkly and asymmetrical. Some skin tags are threadlike and resemble grains of rice. Skin tags may be flesh-colored. They can also be darker than the surrounding skin due to hyperpigmentation. (Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin). If a skin tag becomes twisted, it may turn black due to a lack of blood flow. How do you know if it’s a skin tag or wart? Compared with warts, skin tags are: • smooth and soft (warts tend to be rougher with an irregular surface) • knobbly and hang off the skin (warts are usually slightly raised or flat) • not contagious (warts spread very easily, so a sudden outbreak or cluster of growths is more likely to be warts) Are skin tags contagious? No. There is no evidence to suggest that common skin tags are contagious. Why would some women experience skin tags by wearing jewelry? The main reason for this are thought to be caused by friction. Regular skin cells become stretched and elongated, whether by a lack of elastin in the skin or because of friction. So we could expect to find large numbers of skin tags anywhere where your skin is consistently rubbed. Anybody who wears a necklace will experience it rubbing against the skin, which can be uncomfortable. The friction that happens by jewelry around the neck cause is perhaps the most common reason why this skin condition occurs. When to see a doctor? Other skin conditions such as warts and moles can resemble skin tags. Since some moles may be cancerous, it’s best to have your skin tags examined by a doctor. Your dermatologist or family doctor will be able to diagnose skin tags. They’ll likely do this through a visual exam. If they have any doubt about the diagnosis, they may also perform a biopsy (A biopsy is a sample of tissue taken from the body in order to examine it more closely) What is the treatment for skin tags? As skin tags are usually harmless, removal is normally for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons. Large skin tags, especially in areas where they may rub against something, such as clothing, jewelry or skin, may be removed due to irritation. Removing a large skin tag from the face or under the arms can make shaving easier. Here I’m showing you some procedure for removing skin tags: • Cauterization: The skin tag is burned off using electrolysis • Cryosurgery: The skin tag is frozen off using a probe containing liquid nitrogen • Ligation: The blood supply to the skin tag is interrupted • Excision: The skin tag is cut out with a scalpel **very small tags can be removed by tying dental floss or thin cotton thread around the base of the tag to cut off circulation to the tag. Will removing a skin tag cause more to grow? There is no evidence that removing a skin tag will cause more tags to grow. There is no expectation of causing skin tags to “seed” or spread by removing them. In reality, some people are simply more prone to developing skin tags and may have new growths periodically. Some individuals request periodic removal of tags at annual or even quarterly intervals. **REMEMBER: Do not try this at home Removing a skin tag at home is not normally recommended, due to a risk of bleeding and possible infection. It can be tempting to try slicing off a skin tag. Over-the-counter compounds claim to remove skin tags and YouTube videos claim to demonstrate methods to treat at home. But do-it-yourself treatment of these skin conditions, which can cause bleeding and infection. Trying to take care of it on your own means you’re self-diagnosing. You might be treating something inappropriate, like a skin cancer or a mole. Let a doctor diagnose it before you try anything at home. Finally, THANK YOU for taking the time to read my article, Bye for now! Written By: AQIB NEAZ ZOHA Jinzhou Medical University (CHINA) References: Medical News Today Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation healthline.com medicinenet.com nhs.uk reverehealth.com health.clevelandclinic.org skintagsgone.com Wikipedia webmd.com health.com familydoctor.org everydayhealth.com aocd.org Dr. Nkanyezi Ferguson (MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University Of Iowa Carver College Of Medicine in Iowa City) Dr. Robert Courgi (MD, endocrinologist at Southside Hospital in Long Island, New York). Dr. Pamela Ng (MD, dermatologist, Cleveland Clinic-Independence Family Health Center, USA)