Skin tags, also know as Acrochordons or Cutaneous Papilloma,
are harmless skin growths appearing usually in the adult
years of life among many healthy and normal people. In
common descriptions, skin tags are flesh-colored projections
that appear as small pieces of hanging skin
growths. Due to the awkward appearance of the larger
growths, skin tag removal is common and although their
appearance may vary a little for individual tags, most
skin tags are either smooth or just a little wrinkled,
or irregular. The color of most skin tags is either the
same as that of the body flesh (skin) or a little more
brown than the surrounding skin.
Size and Occurrence
Skin tags are usually small, only large-enough to be
noticed from a very short distance. In the beginning,
a skin tag is quite small, say the size of a pinpoint.
It grows a little with time and, if it is to acquire
a large size, may assume the size of a big grape. Removing
skin tags of any size prevents the tag from from regrowing
in that position again. Skin tags may appear at any
point on the body. The more favorable sites for developing
these growths include: neck, armpits, upper chest, under
the breasts (in women), eyelids, and folds of the groins,
in the case of groin
skin tags. It is believed that points in the body
where skin rubs against skin or against some dressing
item (clothes and accessories) are more likely to develop
skin tags. Often skin tag removal is desired by people
who want to avoid the itchy or painful rubbing feeling
from skin friction where the tags are located.
Symptoms and Problems
While a skin tag is, by definition, a kind of tumor;
it is more correctly regarded as a ‘skin growth’
because of its completely harmless nature. No skin tags
are malignant (cancerous) and they do not pose any risk
of cancer or other disease, even when left untreated.
In addition, skin tags do not cause any symptoms. Only
when irritated manually (e.g. rubbed or twisted), on
with clothing or other objects, would a skin tag show
redness and, in some cases, pain or discomfort, resulting
in skin tag removal. The latter mostly occur in cases
where skin tags get snagged by jewelry items, seat belts,
or fingernails etc. this is single biggest reason why
people search out how
to remove skin tags.
Skin Tag Removal and Treatment
While skin tags are harmless and do not cause any annoying
symptoms, many people who have them prefer to remove
skin tags for cosmetic reasons, i.e. to show more perfect
skin and appear spotless. Occasionally, some skin tags
may fall off on their own, painlessly and without causing
any unease. A number of medical procedures, usually
simple and quick, are also used for skin
tag removal. Freezing, burning, and cutting off
with scissors are the commonly used medical methods
for removing skin tags. Freezing
skin tags is often called Cryotherapy. Local anesthesia
is given before removing a large skin tag; smaller tags
may be removed painlessly without applying anesthesia.
The most difficult type of skin tags to remove are those
formed near the margin of the eyelid. In such a case
for skin
tag treatment, an experienced ophthalmologist (eye
specialist) is needed for skin tag removal.
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