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Skin tags are noncancerous, painless growths on the skin. A short, slender stalk called a peduncle connects them to the skin. Skin tags are very common in both men and women after the age of 50. They can appear anywhere on your body, but they’re more common in areas where your skin folds, like the:
- armpits
- groin
- thighs
- eyelids
- neck
- beneath your breasts
How can you get rid of skin tags?
Skin tags that are too small to see may fall out on their own. The majority of skin tags remain adhered to your skin. Skin tags, in general, do not require treatment. You can look into skin tag removal if they hurt or disturb you.
Your skin tags may be removed by your doctor using the following methods:
Cryotherapy involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin tag.
Surgical removal: using scissors or a scalpel to remove the skin tag.
Electrosurgery is the process of removing a skin tag using high-frequency electrical energy.
Ligation is the process of removing a skin tag by tying it off with surgical thread and cutting off its blood supply.
The removal of tiny skin tags normally does not necessitate anesthesia. When removing big or many skin tags, your doctor may use local anesthetic.
To get rid of skin tags, you can also use natural therapies. Tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice are examples of these. Keep in mind that these therapies are backed up by no scientific data.
Attempting to remove skin tags on your own is not a smart idea. Many websites provide DIY skin tag removal procedures, such as tying them off with rope or using a chemical peel. Removing skin tags, even in a sterile atmosphere, can result in bleeding, burns, and infection. It’s advisable to delegate the task to your doctor.
Identifying Skin Tags
The peduncle is the most common technique to recognize a skin tag. Skin tags, unlike moles and other skin growths, are attached to the skin by a short stalk.
The majority of skin tags are small, measuring less than 2 millimeters in length. Some can grow to be several centimeters long. Skin tags are smooth and gentle to the touch. They can be wrinkled and uneven, or they can be smooth and spherical. Some skin tags are threadlike and look like rice grains.
It’s possible that skin tags are flesh-colored. Hyperpigmentation can also cause them to be darker than the surrounding skin. Because of the absence of blood flow, a twisted skin tag may turn black.
What Causes Skin Tags To Appear
The specific cause of skin tags is unknown. Friction could be a factor because they generally appear in skin folds. Blood vessels and collagen are surrounded by an outer layer of skin in skin tags.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) may play a role in the development of skin tags, according to a 2008 study. The researchers looked at 37 skin tags from different parts of the body. HPV DNA was discovered in nearly half of the skin tags analyzed.
Skin tags may be caused by insulin resistance, which can progress to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Insulin resistance prevents glucose from being absorbed properly from the circulation. Multiple skin tags were linked to insulin resistance, a high body mass index, and elevated triglycerides, according to a 2010 study.
Skin tags are another typical pregnant side effect. It’s possible that this is linked to pregnant hormones and weight increase. Multiple skin tags might be an indication of a hormone imbalance or an endocrine disorder in rare situations.
Skin tags aren’t spreadable. There could be a hereditary link. It’s not uncommon for numerous members of a family to have them.