Skin Tags Definition, Symptoms, Causes & How To Prevent Them

There are several skin conditions that affect humans. Skin tags (Acrochordons) or skin polyp are one of the skin conditions that can appear in any part of the body. It is important to understand how this condition comes into existence and what you can do to eliminate them. NO WORRY! In this article, we are going to share in-depth discussion of skin tag definition, symptoms, causes, Where do they occur and how to prevent skin tags naturally.

Skin Tag Definition

Acrochordons are defined as noncancerous growth on the skin that are painless and are attached to the skin by a small thin stalk known as a peduncle. They usually appear in regions where the sin forms creases such as the armpit, groin and the neck. For some people, they may occur on the eyelids or on the face.

Medical Term

Medical name for skin tags are:- Acrochordon, acrochorda, skin polyp, fibroepithelial polyp, fibrovascular papilloma, cutaneous papilloma, cutaneous tag, soft fibroma, fibroma molle. All of these medical terms describe skin tags and are noncancerous painless skin growths. Some physician or dermatologist may refer to these as “Warts” or “skin tabs”.

According to the medical dictionary, definition of skin tags:-

Skin tag is an outgrowth of epidermal and dermal fibrovascular tissue. Also called acrochordon, soft wart.

According to merriam-webster dictionary, skin tag definition mentioned as :-

A small typically benign soft pendulous growth on the skin especially of the eyelids, neck, armpits, or groin

Skin tag definition According to Urban-dictionary:-

A growth on the skin that can vary between the size of a grain of rice, and in some extreme cases, a golf ball. These unsightly growths are typically in areas of skin folds, armpit,groin or around the eyes or neck. They can be painful to remove, either by cauterization or  freezing off.

Some well known medical experts and researchers wrote about Acrochordons as below:-

• Skin tags usually are painless, but they can become irritated by clothing rubs.-Mayo Clinic Health Letter,  December 1992

• A skin tag, a common and harmless growth, also was removed, along with some spider veins on his nose.—Laurence McQuillan,  USA Today,  4 Aug. 2003

Symptoms

Most common symptoms of acrochordons are:- skin growth, situated on the armpits, trunk, neck, body folds, or different areas, sometimes skin-colored or darker, sometimes terribly tiny, but sometimes an half inch long, can also have a slim stalk. They aren’t risky in most several cases and symptoms area unit light-weight and typically not problematic.

Common 8 notable signs of skin conditions:

1. Bumps or growths
2. Itch
3. Flaky, scaly skin
4. Swelling
5. Rash
6. Redness
7. Blisters
8. Oozing

Where do they occur?

Cutaneous tags are very common and normally occur after midlife. According to above mentioned skin tag definition and symptoms, we already learned that they may appear on different parts of the body. But mostly they may appear on:-

• Eyelids or under eye
• Under arms or armpits
• Neck
• On face
• Groin
• During pregnancy
• Under the breasts

Under Eye

Fibroepithelial polyp can appear on the eyelash line or somewhere close to the eyes and this can make you feel self-conscious. This implies that they can be visible when standing close to another person. Scientists have come up with several ideas for their causes.

It can be caused by a mixture of different reasons depending on your genetics, age, hormones, and health, weight and lifestyle choices. You can easily identify cutaneous tags that are close to the eyes through a series of diagnosis. They can be manifested by smooth and soft bumps around the eye region.

They are very small, peduncular and are not painful. Soft fibroma under the eyes comes in different shapes and sizes. They can either be seen as flat skin tags under eyes, white cutaneous tags near eyes or on the rim of your eyelid.

Under Arms

A fibroepithelial polyp that appears under the armpit or arms is considered to be a harmless benign tumor. The only problem is that they can become irritated as a result of friction. This might result in soreness, pain, swelling and worst of all bleeding.

They don’t usually have a nice look and the only thing one would want to do is to remove them safely. It is very simple to tell if you have an armpit fibroepithelial polyp using self-diagnosis. It is important to avoid touching cutaneous tag that appear under the arm as they may lead to excessive irritation or infection.

They rarely go away on their own which requires an effective method of removal to ensure they are eliminated safely. Some may be difficult to see unless you are looking in the mirror or someone checks it out for you. Skin tag underarm is more likely to affect people who are overweight and can be worsened by excess friction.

On Face

Skin polyp on the face can be very annoying especially if you are a public figure. Few individuals experience quite a few during their lifetime while some will only have single or two of them. Although they are proven to be benign and harmless, they can really affect your appearance. They usually grow up to half of an inch in length before they mature.

Although you can diagnose them by yourself, it is important to consult a dermatologist or your doctor office for a definite diagnosis. People who are aging or overweight and those with diabetes are more likely developing skin tags. It is important to arrange for their removal immediately you notice one or more skin tags on your face. Much can be done while they are still small rather than waiting till they are completely visible.

During Pregnancy

cutaneous tags are largely hereditary and can appear at any time. Skin tags during pregnancy thought to occur as a result of increased hormones during the pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations when nursing. There are other cases where women develop skin tags on their abdomen or groin while pregnant but notice them once they have given birth. There are several effective ways that you can remove cutaneous tag that appear during pregnancy and it’s essential to consult your doctor about the condition.

What Are The Causes Of Acrochordons?

When you are looking for some ideas that how to prevent skin tags, you need to understand causes of skin tags in the first point. Unfortunately, the main cause of Acrochordons has not yet been discovered. However, friction plays a significant role in their occurrence as they tend to show up in skin folds. They are usually made up of collage and blood vessels that are surrounded by an outer layer of the skin.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is said to be the factor leading to the development of skin polyp according to a 2008 study. They are also a common side effect associated with pregnancy. Soft fibroma can also be a sign of an endocrine problem or hormone imbalance in rare cases.

Are They Contagious?

No, soft fibroma are not contagious. These are hanging growth included with ordinary skin generally present on neck, eyelids, armpits or groins. They are more common however now not limited to the obese or diabetic people.

How To Prevent Cutaneous Tag?

Do you want to find out some easy ways of how to prevent skin tags ?Unfortunately, there are no guaranteed ways to prevent or avoid them. But there are many things you can do to prevent cutaneous tags. They can be prevented through hygienic practices. Here are some ways of how to prevent skin tags:-

• You can choose to adopt a healthier lifestyle by reducing consumption of saturated fats and excess sugar.
• Avoid wearing very tight clothes as they can cause excessive friction leading to the growth of skin tag. Because it will rub against your skin and won’t allow your skin to breathe easily  which may cause skin irritation. Try wear looser-fitting cloth so that your skin can breathe easily.
• Using powders can help reduce friction around the regions where Acrochordons are likely to develop such as the neck, groin and under the armpits.

How To Prevent Them From Growing Back?

It is a common question that how to prevent skin tags from growing back? The answer is simple! Generally once you remove a cutaneous tag, the same one won’t grow back again.

How To Remove Cutaneous Tags Safely?

Doctors usually remove them using a sharp blade or sharp scissors. There are rare situations where they can be removed by burning them off at the stalk or freezing skin tags. Bleeding can be stopped using electrical treatment (cauterizing) or with a chemical (aluminum chloride).

Skin tags are not a medical problem but are considered to be a cosmetic concern. It is important to know that health insurance plans cannot pay for their removal. There are some effective home remedies for skin tags. There is also other powerful skin tag removal cream that can be used to eliminate skin tags under eyes, on the face or under the armpit. You can try to remove them yourself with essential oils, mole removal cream. But always consult your doctor before trying to remove them yourself.

Can You Just Cut Off Them?

Yes, you can cut off a skin tag. It is an excellent idea to have a medical doctor do it, in case there is a lot of bleeding or the cutaneous tag seems to be some type of malignant growth that could spread if the top were cut off. So it is recommended that do not try to cut off them yourself.

What Are Some Dangers Of Cut Them Off?

Terrible bleeding and infection are main dangers of cutting a skin tag. So it is highly recommended to consult a doctor if you need something removed or cut them off.

Any Difference Between Skin Tags And Warts?

Most people are always confused when distinguishing between skin tags and warts. We have already explain skin tag definition at the beginning of this article. Cutaneous tag is a small and flesh-colored growths that tend to hang from surface of the skin. Warts may appear differently on the other hand based on the side of the body and the type of HPV responsible.

Unlike skin tags, common warts appear as dome-shaped growth that manifest a rough surface and may have tiny black specks. Fibroepithelial polyp have a soft texture and are known to be smaller than one-quarter inch. However, there are situations where they may grow larger.

Cutaneous tags are caused by age, obesity, and people with diabetes or insulin resistance. Reduce weight, check your Blood sugar and HbA1C, the skin polyp can be removed by CO2 laser, electrocautery or simply tying a thread at its base.