Vaginal Skin Tags
Vaginal skin tags, i.e. skin tags in vaginal area in women,
are harmless growths of extra skin, usually appearing on the
labia which make part of the outer vaginal region vulva. Besides
genital
skin tags, the groin area also sometimes hosts other skin
growths like polyps, warts, and cysts.
Identifying Vaginal Skin Tags
The common appearance of vaginal skin tags is that of small
floppy growths, raised above the surrounding skin in the vaginal
area. In many cases, they look like a stock or peduncle of
excess skin that are either exactly the color of the surrounding
skin or a little deeper/darker in color than it. In a number
of cases, skin tags in the vaginal area may look like a pimple
or a small bump. It is advisable to visit a gynecologist in
order to confirm the skin growths in vaginal area as skin
tags.
Who Gets Vaginal Skin Tags?
Females of any age group, including infants, may get vaginal
skin tags. However, they mostly appear in adult age, particularly
in pregnant women. During the menstrual period, vaginal skin
tags may swell up and increase notably in size. But these
growths return to their normal size after the menstrual period
is over. In some cases, newborn infants, otherwise healthy
and completely normal, get skin tags in vaginal area. These
growths usually appear as tiny filaments of flesh and fall
off without treatment by the age of two months.
Causes and Symptoms
Like other skin tags, the causes
of skin tags in the vaginal area are not known in exact
details. The general idea that skin tags appear in places
where skin rubs against skin or clothing seems to apply to
vaginal skin tags as well. The rubbing of folds in the labia
may be responsible for developing skin tags. In any case,
vaginal skin tags remain benign and do not cause any annoying
symptoms. They may cause some pain or irritation when subject
to friction or irritation from clothing items, especially
from napkins or underwear etc. Congenital skin tags in vaginal
area may become irritated at times when they are rubbed manually
or against clothing items.
Removing Vaginal Skin Tags
Since vaginal skin tags are completely benign and do not
cause any disturbing symptoms, the gynecologist may not advise
for skin
tag removal. However, in case of any annoying symptoms,
or for cosmetic reasons, vaginal skin tags may easily be removed
in the doctor’s clinic, after giving the patient local
anesthesia. Some doctors prefer to remove the vaginal skin
tags by freezing (Cryotherapy). Following are some of the
cases in which the removal of skin tags in vaginal area may
be required and the gynecologist needs to be consulted:
• A vaginal skin tag grows rapidly to a large size
and appears excessively swollen.
• A vaginal skin tag grows significantly darker in color
than the surrounding skin, appearing like a blood clot.
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