Skin tags are most commonly seen in people sometime after midlife. Though they might be unsightly and worrisome, they are usually harmless. These benign growths, known as acrochordons, most often appear on the neck, armpits, under the breasts and in the groin area. They do seem to run in families.
What Causes Skin Tags
What causes a skin tag is really not known. However, the human papilloma virus, which causes warts, is thought to play a contributing role.
What Are Skin Tags
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Skin tags are fibrous polyps which seem to suddenly appear on the skin. This can be very frightening if you have not seen one before. They look like a small pouch protruding from the skin on a stalk, and they are usually the same color as your skin, although they can be a shade or two darker. They are often mistaken for warts or moles since they are not too dissimilar in appearance.
Skin tags generally are not painful, except if they are located in an area where they can be irritated by rubbing clothes or other friction.
Skin Tag Treatment
Skin tags can remain forever without causing a problem. They are generally removed if they become irritated or painful, or simply as a cosmetic choice. Most people seek medical treatment to have a skin tag surgically removed. This can be accomplished in several ways:
1. Snipping off with a scalpel or scissors using a local anesthetic if needed.
2. Freezing or cryotherapy, is another option. However, this is not a first choice since it is not as precise as snipping and could cause damage to surrounding tissues. Also, this method can cause some pain and discomfort.
3. Skin tags can be removed with a laser. There may be some pain involved, but it can easily be treated with over-the-counter pain medications. This is probably the most costly method.
4. The suture method is simple. It merely requires the skin tag to be tied off with a surgical suture. This causes the blood supply to be cut off from the skin tag causing it to die and fall off.
As a general rule, none of these surgical procedures are covered by health insurance since they are considered cosmetic in nature. There are people who remove their own skin tags, but this is not recommended.
Shirley Peel, webmaster and author has had many years in the medical field. Visit http://www.skincare-systems.com where you will find a complete information site about skin care. Be sure to sign up to get our free skin care ecourse.
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