Skin tags are small flesh-colored or brown growths that hang off the skin and look a bit like warts. They are very common and harmless. Skin tags are usually a few millimeters in size, although some can be as big as 5cm. They are commonly found on the neck, in the armpits, around the groin or under the breasts. Sometimes they grow on the eyelids or under the folds of the buttocks. Treatment for skin tags usually involve sterilizing and numbing the effected area with a cooling spray or ice, and then cutting the skin tag off fast with a scissor or knife. This simple and often painless procedure is effective for most people. The medical name for skin tags is acrochordons.
Skin tags are fairly small flaps of skin that protrude from the surrounding skin on the body. Skin tags vary widely in their color and shape. Some are smooth, while others are irregular and bumpy. Some are flesh colored, while others contain pigment that differs from that of the rest of the skin.
Skin tags commonly grow on the eyelids, in the crook of the elbow, in the armpits and on the neck, but it is normal for them to appear anywhere on the body. Skin tags can appear either as a flap attached to the skin or on a stalk-like structure of skin called a peduncle. When skin tags are attached to the skin by peduncle, they look like little mushrooms with a firm stalk and a bulbous tip.
Skin tags are considered by dermatologists to be small tumors. However, they are benign, or harmless. Normally, skin tags grow very slowly to a specific size, up to ½ inch long (1.27 cm), and then cease growing. A tumor that appears to be a skin tag, but grows rapidly and consistently, may be another kind of tumor that is malignant and possibly cancerous.
Although unattractive, skin tags are harmless growths that appear mostly on adults beginning in middle age. Skin tags more commonly affect women than men. Skin tags are formed when an area of the outer layer of skin begins to overgrow and envelope collagen fibers, a type of skin cell that is firm and lacks elasticity.
Skin tags are not a source of medical problems for most people, and they are most often painless. However, in some instances, skin tags grow on areas of the body where they may become irritated through friction with clothing, jewelry and other materials, causing scrapes and infections. Some skin tags are located in areas that are bothersome or embarrassing, such as when they are attached to an eyelid.
Skin tags can be removed safely and painlessly by physicians or by yourself. Some methods of removal include freezing the skin tags off with liquid nitrogen or removing them with a scalpel or surgical scissors. Cauterizing or burning skin tags off is also effective. Once skin tags are removed, they do not grow back, although they may continue to appear on other parts of the body.
The most common causes of skin tags are friction, obesity, pregnancy, and genetics. Blood vessels and collagen that become trapped in thick layers of skin can also cause skin tags. Friction in these areas can contribute further to the formation of skin tags.
Rubbing of skin against skin is probably one of the greatest causes of skin tags. This is especially true of individuals who may be overweight. People with excess amounts of weight and skin are more likely to experience friction and folds within the skin where skin tags can form. These growths are typically more prevalent in overweight individuals,
Genetics may also play a role as one of the causes of skin tags. Individuals who have parents, siblings, or grandparents with numerous skin tags can generally figure that they will also form them at some point. Typically, skin tags do not occur in young individuals. They generally begin appearing after midlife and are not dangerous. Skin tags are benign growths that do not represent any danger to the individual.
Pregnancy is also one of the causes of skin tags. This is primarily thought to be because of hormones and chemical changes in the body. Women who are expecting also tend to have more folds and creases in the skin during the pregnancy. Skin tags may form in these areas where friction occurs and skin rubs against skin.
While skin tags are not dangerous and do not represent a health risk, they can be aggravating if they become very large or are located in an area that may cause discomfort. For example, skin tags commonly occur on eyelids. If the skin tag becomes very large, it may obstruct vision or be uncomfortable. People with aggravating skin tags, or tags that interfere with day-to-day living, may want to consider skin tag removal.
There are a number of home remedies and quick methods of skin tag removal. Generally, it is a good idea to let a trained medical professional remove skin tags. Attempting to remove them at home may result in infection or unsightly scars. Other skin disorders that may be misdiagnosed as skin tags include warts, moles, malignant skin cancers and seborrheic keratosis. Excessive skin tags may also be an indication of an underlying condition, such as acromegaly or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Some common treatments include cutting them off using scissors, tying off the bottom using string or undergoing a surgical procedure. Choosing the ideal treatment for skin tags will ultimately depend on the severity and the individual's personal preference.
One of the more traditional methods for removing skin tags involves using a pair of scissors. First, the scissors are dipped in peroxide in order to sterilize them. Then the skin tag is pulled back slightly with a pair of tweezers, and the scissors are used to cut off the skin tag. Usually there will be some bleeding involved, mostly minor, so a sterile pad should be on hand to quickly stop the blood flow. Finally, a bandage with antibiotic ointment is placed over the area until it heals.
Typically, this method works best on simple cases where there are only a few small skin tags. The benefit of using scissors is that it can be done at home for free. The drawback is that there is a mild level of pain involved.
Another popular treatment for skin tags makes use of either a thin string or dental floss. Basically, the string is tightly tied at the bottom of the skin tag and left alone. Doing this automatically stops the blood flow that the skin tag needs to survive. As a result, the tag should fall off on its own after approximately two or three days. Once it falls off, an antibiotic ointment should be placed on the area to prevent infection.
Like the scissors method, using string is usually best for mild cases. It's beneficial because it saves money when compared to professional treatment. The drawback is that the process takes a few days to complete.
An additional form of treatment for skin tags involves having them professionally removed through some form of surgery. Some of the primary options include freezing them or by laser removal. Procedures such as these are often done at a dermatologist's office, and are usually intended for more severe cases. Professional removal is mainly for people experiencing large quantities of skin tags, or excessively large skin tags. Sometimes a numbing anesthesia is also used if significant pain is likely to involved.
The benefits of this option are that it's usually very quick and safe. The problem is that it's much more expensive than removing skin tags at home. In addition, scarring can sometimes occur after the skin tags have been removed.
Yes. Skin tags can be irritating and unattractive, especially when they seem to pop up continuously. Making frequent trips to a physician to remove skin tags can be just as irritating. You can remove skin tags at home, however, and there are several ways that you can do it. No matter which method is used, if you notice a possible infection in the area where a skin tag was removed, be sure to consult a dermatologist or your usual medical doctor about the problem.
Identify the Growths
Before you attempt to remove skin tags, you should be completely certain that you are dealing with skin tags rather than more serious growths. A skin tag is very small and grows slowly, usually never reaching a size greater than half an inch (1.27 cm). It might appear to be a flap of skin or a small, round mass attached to the skin by a peduncle, or stalk. The skin tag should be soft and movable, with a pigmentation that is similar to the rest of your skin or slightly darker.
Tie-and-Snip Method
After you have established that the growths are skin tags, you can begin to remove them. One way to do this is to tie a piece of thread or dental floss tightly around the base of the skin tag. Then, with thoroughly cleaned, sharp scissors or a nail clipper, cut the skin tag off above the material that you tied around the base.
After you remove skin tags using scissors or clippers, make sure that you keep the areas clean with peroxide or antibacterial ointment until they are healed. This procedure is relatively painless and is similar to the procedure that a doctor might perform. A skin tag should not appear again on the same site, but if it does, you should consult a physician.
Drying Paste Method
Another method to remove skin tags that does not yield immediate results — but is far less intrusive — involves creating a mixture of castor oil and baking soda. Mix these two ingredients together to form a thick paste and apply it frequently, as often as several times a day, to the skin tags. Eventually, usually within two weeks, the skin tags will dry up and disappear.
Commercial Products
Some people remove skin tags at home by purchasing and applying solutions that are designed for wart removal. Many people who try them find these products more effective at removing skin tags than they are at removing warts. There also are many over-the-counter products that are specifically designed to remove skin tags at home. You can try these products to determine whether they are effective, or you can try the quicker method of snipping off the skin tags yourself.