Skin tags often show up out of nowhere. Even though they are harmless and often painless, they are more annoying to look at. Skin tags become a reason for embarrassment for many people especially for those that have visible skin tags. And though the cause of skin tag is not always known, skin tag treatment is readily available.

Facts On Skin Tags:

Here are some facts on skin tags:

  • Skin tags commonly develop in folds or creases of the skin
  • They are harmless tumors of the skin
  • Skin tags don’t cause any problem, but they are usually removed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons.
  • Skin tag treatment options include cryotherapy, excision, and over the counter (OTC) therapies

What Are Skin Tags?

First of all, skin tags are not harmful and also show no signs or symptoms. These are also known as fibroepithelial polyps, acrochordons, soft fibromas and cutaneous tags which can pop out from a thin stalk of skin and hang off the skin. These are usually skin-colored growths, even though some skin tags are darker in color.

Skin tags are a common problem in both men and women. These are typically small in size and measured in millimeters. However, they can also grow up to an inch and develop without causing any pain. But once formed, they don’t usually grow any bigger. These skin tags can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the neck, face, chin, eyelids, thighs, the groin area and in the armpits. A person can develop one or two or many, and they can be in a group or in isolated spots.

What Causes Skin Tags?

Skin tags are extremely common. 1 out of 8 people develop skin tags, often starting after 50. They are more common among diabetic and obese people – conditions that often go hand in hand. Although the actual cause of skin tag is not known, it may appear when clusters of blood vessels and collagen get stuck inside thicker pieces of skin. As they occur in skin folds or creases, they might be developed due to skin rubbing against skin or skin rubbing against clothes.

Risk factors for Skin Tags

Skin tags are more common in:

  • Women during pregnancy, possibly due to high levels of growth factors and hormonal changes
  • Individuals who are obese and overweight
  • People with diabetes
  • Those with some types of human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Individuals with a sex-steroid imbalance, specifically if there are changes in levels of progesterone and estrogen
  • Those who inherit them

MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SKIN TAGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR WITH:

  • Obesity
  • Dyslipidemia, for example, high cholesterol levels
  • Hypertension, or high blood pressure
    Skin tags have also been associated with a marker of inflammation, insulin resistance, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein.

Possible Skin Tag Treatment Options

If you have a skin tag and seeking a skin tag removal treatment in Santa Ana, you would first want to know about the available skin tag treatments. For a matter of fact, small or tiny skin tags may fall off on their own. However, medium to large skin tags are often need removal treatment. Usually, skin tags don’t bother or hurt you, but if they bother you aesthetically, you can always choose to have them removed.

Here are Some Common Treatments Available:

  • Surgical removal: Removing the skin tag with scissors or a scalpel.
  • Cryotherapy: Freezing the skin tag with liquid nitrogen.
  • Ligation: Getting rid of the skin tag by tying it with a surgical thread to cut off its blood flow.
  • Electrosurgery: Burning off the skin tag with high-frequency electrical energy.

Getting skin tags removed usually don’t need anesthesia. Your doctor might use local anesthesia when treating multiple skin tags.