Skin Tag

Skin Tag

A Skin Tag is a soft, tiny piece of hanging skin, also known as soft fibromas, fibroepithelial polyps, and acrochordons. They frequently resemble a group of skin tissue growing from a little stem. The majority of Skin Tags are 1-5 mm in size. However, some can develop to be a few centimetres long.These are generally painless and do not affect health but can be irritating. Skin Tags are commonly found in the neck, eyelids, upper chest, armpits, groin, under the breasts, and underarms. 

1. The majority are painless and have no symptoms.
2. They may become uncomfortable and bleed if they rub against clothing or jewellery.
3. Skin Tags differ from warts and other benign skin lesions. Warts are likely to be flat. While Skin Tags hang from the skin through the stalk.

1. A Skin Tag can happen when clumps of protein like collagen and blood vessels become entrapped inside the skin. 
2. A Skin Tag can be inherited in certain people. 
3. Any combination of prolonged rubbing or irritating fabric on the skin.
4. High level of growth factors, particularly during pregnancy or in conditions like acromegaly (gigantism).

Skin Tags tend to be more frequent in the following cases:

1. Hormonal Imbalance: Alteration in the level of the hormones(estrogen and progesterone) and the growth factors during pregnancy can cause Skin Tags. 
2. Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Because of the friction in the groin region, having HPV might raise your chance of developing skin tags.
3. Diabetes: Diseases like diabetes are linked to insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia.
4. Hereditary: Skin Tags can be inherited and linked to your family history and genetics. In some rare conditions, Skin Tags can be related to the following syndromes:
   1. Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
   2. Polycystic ovary syndrome

Differential Diagnosis

1. Warts: Filiform warts imitate Skin Tags in appearance. Warts are differentiated from Skin Tags by their dispersion. 
2. Neurofibromas: These are benign soft pedunculated growth.
3. Nevi: Small pedunculated nevi resembles Skin Tags in appearance. Nevi can be distinguished from Skin Tags by their size, pigmented pattern, and position.
4. Seborrheic Keratosis: This can be differentiated from Skin Tags that appear as a waxy brown, black, or tan growth.

Skin Tags are usually harmless, removal of Skin Tags is normally for cosmetic reasons. 

1. Surgery: The following procedure may be used:
   1. Cauterization: Electrolysis is used to remove the Skin Tag.
   2. Cryosurgery:  A probe carrying liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the Skin Tag off.
   3. Ligation:  The Skin Tag's blood supply has been cut off.
   4. Excision: A scalpel is used to remove the tag.
2. Over-the-counter Solutions:
   1.  Over-the-counter solutions can get from pharmacies and also can be purchased online.
   2. By using these OTC solutions, the Skin Tag will be frozen and will come off in 7 to 10 days. These drugs are comparable to those used to get rid of warts.

If skin tags are left untreated then they can continue to grow and expand which may continue to irritate or bother you. Sometimes you may not like the way they look. Additionally, the patient should not attempt to remove skin tags at home because it is not safe. They are associated with an increased risk of problems, such as:

1. Scars
2. Excessive bleeding
3. Infection
4. Incomplete skin removal means it’s likely to come back.
5. Damage to healthy nearby skin
6. Incorrectly using a tag remover on something that is not a skin tag, such as skin cancer