Home > Skin Tags

Table of Contents

• What are skin tags?
• Characteristics
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Dermatologist
• Skin Tag Removal Yourself & Video
• Brochure

" There are many names for skin tags such as acrochordons, filiform, pedunculated, papillomas, soft fibromas and fibroepithelial polyps. These skin growths are benign (harmless) and painless single or multiple small growths of tissue hanging off a connecting stalk (pedunculated from the skin's surface). Twisting can cause inflammation or tenderness. Most do not cause any problems, although they can become inflamed if caught on clothes or become scratched. When irritated they could bleed. 50% of all people will get at least one in their lifetime. 78% of patients have under 3 lesions in each area. 

If you decide to have them removed, they can be removed by a dermatologist with liquid nitrogen, elctrodessication,  a sharp blade, or scissor Anesthesia is needed is the stalk is too thick.

See a Doctor is the skin tag cannot be moved, has a color which is different than surrounding skin areas, has multiple colors, is bleeding or if the appearance has changed." 

What are Skin Tags?

A skin tag (achrochordon) is a flesh-colored small dark brown or flesh colored growth >1mm to 10mm that is immobile or attached to the skin with a stalk.  It is a benign growth that can be easily removed for medical or cosmetic reasons.

Characteristics

• Multiple names: fibroepithelial polyp, skin tag, acrochordon, squamous pappilloma
• On a broad or narrow stalk
• Color: flesh colored or brown
• More common in obese people.
• Frequently seen on the armpit (axilla- 48%), neck (35%) and groin
• Tags stop growing after age 60
  
• Appear after age 20
• Composed of loose fibrous tissue covered by a thin skin layer
• Benign
• Can become irritated when caught in clothes

Research has speculated that there is a connection between skin tags and diabetes or colon polyps. The research has not been conclusion and more work is needed to prove the connection.

They are more prevalent in women than men and appear as we age, particularly in cases where the patient is obese or has Type 2 diabetes.

Some professionals believe they might be genetically inherited, although they are not certain. These lesions are usually painless unless irritated by clothing or other objects that constantly rub against them.

Causes of Skin Tags

The cause for these growths on the skin is unknown. Following are some factors that might help them generate:

• Rubbing together of skin causing irritation & chaffing
• The human papillomavirus
• Resistance to Insulin (syndrome x)
• Gigantism (acromegaly)
• Sudden increases in growth, such as pregnancy

Symptoms

Skin tags can be found anywhere on the body, but usually, develop in folds of the skin:

• neck
• breast
• armpit
• eyelid
• groin

Diagnosis

A dermatologist will differentiate Skin tags from look-a-like skin lesions or moles. Similar skin growths include:

• seborrheic keratosis
• compound or dermal melanocytic nevus
• solitary neurofibroma
• molluscum contagiosum

Skin tags sometimes grow in number and size when pregnant. In other people, the same can happen over a long period of time.

Treatment

By a Dermatologist

Since these unattractive skin lesions are harmless, you could leave them alone However, a dermatologist can remove them for cosmetic reasons using several methods.

• Cutting them off with a scalpel or scissor surgically. Used when the skin tag is larger.
• Freezing them off (cryotherapy): This approach freezes the skin tag using liquid nitrogen. The tags fall off in 2 to 3 weeks after treatment.
• Electronic surgery, burning them off electronically (cautery or diathermy)
• Tying a suture around the neck of the lesion (surgical ligation)

Home Remedies: Removing Skin Tags Yourself

There are several products you can buy over the counter to help with a skin growth problem.

• Naturasil Homeopathic Remedies for Skin Tags: A removal liquid that causes the tags to dry up and flake away. Apply this product topically, its made from 100% pure plant extracts.
• SkinPro Skin Tag Remover: Uses salicylic acid to remove the tags. You apply this product topically.
• Chromium Picolinate (200 mcg 2x a day): This element may impact insulin resistance which is believed to effect skin tag formation. It takes 3 months for results to occur using this approach. Talk to your Doctor before taking a Chromium supplement since it affects insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels.
• Micro TagBand: works by stopping the blood supply to the skin tag. Places a cone over the tag (see video below).

Brochure To Read and Learn

References

U.S National Library of Health and the National Institutes of Health(MedlinePlus 1/17/2010) Parents.Berkley.Edu, 1/14/2010

New Zealand Dermatological Society Inc.(DermNetnz.org) 1/11/2010