Why do we get skin tags?

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We all have moles and scars on our skin and many times they are used as identification marks if placed in prominently visible areas. Every now and then our skin gets exposed to rashes or boils or other skin infections due to climatic influence, allergy or some disorder in our body system. Skin tags are very common and many people have it. Although they do not cause any You do not have access to view this node,  their presence especially on the face and neck is embarrassing and displeasing to some people.

 

What are skin tags?

The small soft pieces which look like hangings on the skin are the skin tags. Mostly they are benign in nature and are considered harmless. The tendency to have skin tags vary from person to person. Some may have couple of them while in some special condition more than 50 to 100 skin tags have been found to be present. Small tags when rubbed may fall off painlessly but most of the skin tags do not fall on their own. Medically they are termed as acrochordon and are explained as outgrowth of polypoid of dermal fibrovascular tissue and epidermis.

 

What are the causes of skin tags?

Skin tags are more common in obese or overweight people. Women with larger breasts but normal weight too are more prone to these tags, especially under the breasts. Diabetes, pregnancy and heredity are also the other causes. They are found equally in both men and women.

 

Where do they appear?

Skin tags erupt anywhere on the skin. But the most common places are the neckline and armpits where the skin has folds or creases. Some other areas are upper chest, eyelids, groin folds and buttock folds. These are especially found in areas where there is constant friction with the clothes or skin. Plump and chunkier babies too develop skin tags. Younger children have been found to have them on the eyelids. Tags are typically thought to occur in characteristic friction locations where skin rubs against skin or clothing. More plump or chunkier babies may also develop skin tags in areas where skin rubs against skin like the sides of the neck. Younger children may develop tags at the upper eyelid areas, often in areas where they may rub. Older children and preteens may develop tags in the underarm area from friction and repetitive irritation from sports.

 

 

What are the characteristics of skin tags?

Skin tags are invariably benign - non cancerous - tumors of the skin which cause no symptoms, unless it is repeatedly rubbed or scratched, as may happen with clothing, jewelry, or when shaving. Very large skin tags may burst under pressure. These are composed of ducts, nerve cells, fat cells, core of fibers and epidermis covering. They appear smooth or irregular and are placed raised off from the skin surface on a stalk or fleshy peduncles. The color of skin tags is brownish or fleshy. They are very small at the origin and can range in diameter in between 2mm to 1cm or even 5cm.

 

What are the ways to remove them?

Skin tags are harmless but if they are placed in visible areas like face or neck they are removed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. Many times they are located in areas where there is regular friction of skin with clothes or jewelry. Hence the skin tags are removed. Irritation is another reason for removing them. Some of the common procedures used for removing skin tags are:

The following procedures may be used to remove skin tags:

  • Cauterization – In this treatment electrolysis process is used for burning the skin tag and removing it
  • Cryosurgery – a probe filled with liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the skin tag
  • Ligation – blood supply to skin tag is stopped
  • Excision - the skin tag is taken off with scalpel
External References
medicalnewstoday
medicinenet
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