Anal Skin Tags
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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