Skin Tags; Yuck!

What is a skin tag?

Skin tags are basically little bulbs of annoying flesh on top of the skin. When they rub against clothing or get caught on jewelry, they can get irritated and inflamed or even bleed and hurt. Skin tags often form in areas of friction and often appear around the neck, under the arms, on our thighs, even around the eyelids.

Skin tags are benign skin lesions composed of normal skin tissue (extra skin and fat). There is, however, a genetic component to them, and people whose parents had them are more likely to get them themselves.

I’m worried that my skin tag is not a skin tag. What do I do?

If this is a concern to you or your therapist, you should have a dermatologist check it out. Common skin conditions that aren’t skin tags but look like skin tags are seborrheic keratoses and neurofibromas.

Seborrheic keratoses are extremely common on the neck. Like skin tags, these often form in areas of high friction. These are often found on women, on the chest, neck, underarm area, and even under the bra line; however, they can form anywhere on the skin.

Neurofibromas are little skin-colored, fleshy papules. These little bumps are very common and are benign.

So, What Causes Skin Tags Anyway?

Obesity and Friction

Simply being overweight can cause friction between skin layers and is a major cause in developing skin tags. Typically found under the arms, between the thighs, along the neck. This is where our necklaces typically rest and rub.

Pregnancy

Sometimes just the normal physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can cause skin tags to form or become enlarged. The woman is in a growth state where she herself is heavier than normal, there is a possibility that she has developed gestational diabetes during her pregnancy (which has been correlated to skin tag production), and there may be an increase in friction in some areas such as the inner thighs or underarms, can all lead to skin tags during pregnancy.

Diabetes

A correlation has been found that diabetics are more prone to developing skin tags although more research is needed in order to discover a scientific reason behind this.

How Can I Prevent Skin Tags?

Reducing skin friction — like, not wearing necklaces that can rub on the skin — can help keep new tags from developing, says Nguyen, who adds that removed skin tags don’t typically grow back, though new ones may grow in the same general area where tags have previously popped up. A healthy diet and lifestyle can help keep blood sugar level low, which may also help prevent skin tags from forming. If at any time you or your therapist feel that a dermatologist be contacted, you should see you’re your dermatologist for further examination.

Treatment

Depending on the size of the tag, this process usually only takes a few seconds. The therapist will examine the skin tags to be removed and decide on the course of action. The tag may be sprayed with a freezing spray called a cryo-treatment, they may use sterile scissors to cut off the tag or they may use a laser technique to burn the tag away.

All areas to be treated are first treated with a Lidocaine cream or injection prior to the treatment to numb the area to be treated. Some patients report a slight stinging for a few seconds, but most say they do not feel anything during the treatment itself.

The treatment may turn the area red and inflamed. Some people form little blisters or a scab over the treated area in the few days after treatment.

After some time has passed to allow for the numbing affect (usually just a minute or two) the therapist will take a specialized tool to remove the excess skin. If the therapist chooses to use a laser removal, there may be a bit of a smell involved as the tag is removed. This is due to the cauterization of the skin to prevent bleeding. Skin tags often have their own blood vessel supply and cauterizing the skin will prevent bleeding and potential infection. This will often cause a scab to form. As with any “wound” the scab is there to help prevent infection and to increase healing. Do not remove the scab during this time, it will dry up and fall away just as any other scab you may have had over the years.

Cost

The cost of skin tag removal typically costs between $50 up to $500 or more, depending on the number and size of the skin tags to be removed.