Skin Tags

Definition

They are small benign tumors that may be occurs in areas where the skin forms creases, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Mostly it may be occur on the face, usually on the eyelids. Skin tags are made up of loosely arranged collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by a thickened or thinned-out epidermis. They are harmless and do not become cancerous or malignant. They can become irritated if they are in an area where clothing or jewelry rubs against them, and they may be unsightly. They protrude from the surface of the skin on a fleshy stalk known as peduncle. They are consider as a projection of skin from the surrounding skin and may appear attached to the skin. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented. Skin tags may be develop in both men and women as they grow older.

Skin tags are very common soft harmless lesions that appear to hang off the skin. They are also described as: Acrochordons, Papillomas, Soft fibromas, Filiform, Pedunculated.

Causes of skin tags

The main common causes of skin tags may includes:-

• Liver problems, such as hepatitis may also cause skin tags to develop in the body.
• Overexposure to the sun, such as a severe, blistering sunburn during childhood, may also lead to the condition of skin tags.
• The autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and scleroderma may cause skin tags.
• Bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo and cellulitis may also a factor for the development of this disease.
• High levels of growth factors, particularly during pregnancy or in acrogmegaly, may also produce skin tags.
• Repeated exposure to X-rays, chemicals, and radioactive substances, are also the main factors of skin tags.
• In a chronic condition, acne may cause skin tags.
• Hormones abnormalities may also cause skin tags.
• Obesity: They tend to be more numerous in obese persons and in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Actinic keratosis, may also lead to the condition of skin tags.
• Allergic reaction to a medicine amy also causes a skin change, or develop a skin tags.
• Skin tags are also seen with increased frequency in patients with insulin resistance.
• The viral infections, such as chickenpox and shingles may lead to the condition of skin tags.

Symptoms of skin tags

Symptoms of skin tags may includes :

• A skin tag is painless, although it can become irritated if it is rubbed a lot.
• New skin tags may form even if all existing tags are removed.
• A skin tag at first may appear as a tiny soft bump on the skin. Over time, it grows into a flesh-colored piece of skin attached to the skin surface by a stalk.
• The areas where these growths are present are neck, armpits, trunk, body folds or other areas.
• Usually skin is colored, o but may be darker sometimes.

Treatment of skin tags

Some most common & important treatment of skin tags may includes:

• When a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted, treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply, or cutting off the tag with a scalpel or scissors.
• Chromium polynicotinate can also be taken and is sold under the name Natrol ChromeMate.
• Skin tags do not need treatment.
• Some people have their skin tags disappear if they take chromium picolinate 200 mcg twice a day.

The growth of skin tags may be removed by surgically. Herbal remedies for skin tags Vitamin E Diets rich in olive oil and using safflower oil as a substitute for vegetable oil will provide much-needed vitamin E. The following herbs have traditionally been used to treat skin tags:-

1. Black Walnut the tincture is also used to treat skin tags.
2. Comfrey :Creams and infusions can be used for the treatment of skin tags.
3. Aloe Gel gel has antiviral & antibacterial properties.
4. Astragalus: Use of the tincture or capsules boosts the immune system.