A skin tag is a little, floppy patch of skin that hangs from the skin and may have a stalk. They can appear anywhere on the body but are more common in areas like the neck and armpits. Skin tags are quite prevalent and often appear after midlife. Both men and women are equally impacted.
Dr. Sam Speron – a Chicago Plastic Surgeon – describes them as benign, soft, skin-colored growths known medically as acrochordons. They are often mistaken for other benign growths, including flesh-colored moles, neurofibromas, or even warts.
Skin tag locations tend to include the eyelids, neck, armpits, and groin. They often develop in body folds because they tend to prefer places of friction.
II. Causes:
The tendency to develop skin tags is inherited (runs in families). The precise cause is unknown.
Yes, says Dr. Speron, but they may also become worse with hormonal fluctuations and are genetic. People with diabetes and obesity are more likely to develop skin tags as they age. They are also often seen during pregnancy.
Skin tags do not need treatment if they do not bother you. If skin tags become sore from rubbing clothing or jewelry or if you find them unsightly, they can be removed surgically. Healing is usually complete within a week. New
skin tags may form even if all existing tags are removed!
Some people have their skin tags disappear if they take chromium picolinate 200 mcg twice a day. This trace element is available at health food and drug stores
without a prescription.
Please refrain from removing skin tags using nail clippers or acid which often incompletely remove the lesions and also result in significantly more scarring. According to Dr. Speron, "We carry out these surgeries under controlled circumstances to minimize consequences like an infection."
If you're looking for a specific procedure, check with your doctor first to see what they offer, as Dr. Speron exclusively performs surgical removal of skin tags at his office for enhanced accuracy. The removal of skin tags usually doesn’t leave a scar.
Chromium polynicotinate can also be taken and is sold under the name Natrol ChromeMate. This mineral must be taken for 3 months to see the results and if you stop taking the chromium the tags will recur.
Skin Tag Removal Before & After Pictures
9 month old with skin and cartilage remnants in front of her left ear. A simple outpatient surgery was all that was needed to remove them. If it was not for her age, it could easily have been done in the office.
37 year old female before and 6 months after excision of skin tag of her right upper eyelid. Patient is happy with the results and there is no evidence of scarring.
23 year old female before and 6 months after excision of skin tag of her left neck. Patient is very happy with the results and there is no evidence of scarring.
When I first published The 7 Critical Questions to Ask Before Letting Any Surgeon Touch You, I had no idea that it would be so popularly received. Since its publication, this brief guide has helped thousands like you to more safely navigate the world of cosmetic surgery. The 7 Questions have been updated and a bonus section, Applying the 7 Questions, has just been added. Be my guest to read, learn and share.
