Anal skin tags are excess skin
growths in the anal region, usually at places where
some previous injury or growth has left bit of extra skin.
Some people get scared upon noticing their anal skin tags,
mistakenly supposing them to be hemorrhoids or some other
serious health problem of the anal region. It is therefore
recommended to visit a dermatologist in case you notice/feel
any skin growths or lumps etc in the anal area.
Appearance
The appearance of anal skin tags is similar to that
of other skin
tags found on the neck, under the armpits, or on
the eyelids etc. They are usually small protrusions
of the skin in the anal area, similar in color to the
surrounding flesh or slightly darker than it. They may
be joined to the anus, or close to it, by a small stalk
(or stem) of tissue that provides blood to the cells
in the tags.
Symptoms and Problems
Anal skin tags, like other skin tags, are asymptomatic
i.e. not causing any symptoms. They are completely harmless
in themselves but they are likely to cause itching,
irritation, and/or pain when subject to friction and
rubbing (something that happens quite often). In such
cases, anal skin tags may swell on the outer part of
anus and cause pain and discomfort, particularly during
a bowel movement. It is important to seek treatment
when such symptoms appear. In case of leaving them untreated,
swollen anal skin tags may lead to other diseases of
the anal (rectal) region.
Treatment
There is more than one method of treating
skin tags on the anus. One of the commonly used
medical techniques to remove anal skin tags is ligation
i.e. suppressing the blood flow to the tags by tying
them around the base with a string. The tags are then
cut off painlessly and the remaining part (the stem)
is cauterized i.e. burned with an electrically heated
metal. Depending on the size of the tags, the patient
may feel some pain and/or discomfort for a few days
after skin
tag removal. Now a day, more people having anal
skin tags are going for laser surgery. Not only does
it remove the tags quickly but also deletes any roughness
on the skin, giving better cosmetic results. Freezing
skin tags is another commonly used technique.
Post-Treatment Care
There have been reports of new anal skin tags growing
in or close to places of the old ones that were removed
by treatment. While their growth is unpredictable, it
is advisable to keep the anal region clean. Washing
it well after a bowel movement is important to prevent
any bacterial infection. In case of any irritation or
discomfort in the treated area, the patient should visit
his/her physician and have a physical examination.
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