What Causes Skin Tags And How To Get Rid Of Them
Skin tags are gentle, frequently irritating, growths on the skin that often occur where it folds or rubs against itself. They normally appear as small flaps of flesh found on neck, armpits, under breasts, around groin and eyelids. Acrochordons is a medical term for skin tags which have no health risks but can be bothersome or unsightly to some individuals.
What Causes Skin Tags?
Primarily friction between skin with another patch of skin is responsible for the formation of skin tags especially in folds of the body. Other factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as family history may increase your chance of getting them. Hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy also contribute to their emergence. Note that these are not malignant lesions and do not become cancerous.
Features of a Skin Tag
These tags consist of fibers, small blood vessels, nerve cells and ducts. Can be smooth or rough looking and are usually fleshy colored or slightly brown. Generally, they hang by a narrow stem from the surface and vary in size from a poppy seed to that of pea.
Skin Tag Removal Methods
Many people remove these benign growths because they create discomfort when caught on clothing or jewelry or simply for cosmetic reasons although they pose no health risks. It is important to note that there are few remedies available for removal:
Home Remedies for Skin Tags
1. Tea Tree Oil: This natural remedy has antiviral as well as antifungal properties; one can apply it three times daily with a clean cotton ball until tag becomes dry before falling off completely although this oil should be diluted properly since it can irritate your skin.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar: Use apple cider vinegar to wet a cotton wool ball then use bandage to tie it over the tag; after a few weeks, it will turn black and drop off. It works by destroying the tissue around the tag as a result of its acidic nature.
3. Home Freezing Kits: These kits use liquid nitrogen to freeze off the skin tag just like what a health care provider may do but they are simpler to use. If you don’t get everything right you can damage your skin.
Medical Treatments
1. Cryotherapy: In this method, the tag is frozen by putting liquid nitrogen on it, which causes it to fall off in one or two weeks.
2. Surgical Removal: A doctor might need surgical scissors for more formidable tags or larger ones brought down through an incision after local anaesthesia has been used to numb the area surrounding it.
3. Plasma Fibroblast Therapy: This new technique uses plasma as the fourth state of matter that creates a small electric arc without transferring heat in between thereby treating skin tags. This method minimises the risks of having scarred tissues.
Points To Note And Warnings
In advance of trying to get rid of a skin tag yourself, it is important to be sure that you are actually dealing with one. Visit a board certified aesthetician or dermatologist who will give the diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment. This is crucial in eliminating other possible causes such as cancer or different types of unwanted skin growths.
The American Academy of Dermatology discourages self-removal of skin tags, especially when they are large or located in sensitive places like eyelids. Additionally, always consult your doctor before any attempts at removing them for diabetic patients.
Conclusion
Skin tags are small soft outgrowths of the skin which are common and harmless. They do not pose any medical problems but cosmetic considerations may motivate one to remove them. Others suggest doing home remedies which sometimes work but may also have adverse effects if not properly done. In most cases where there is a big number or many large ones, seeking professional medical assistance will help to ensure safe and effective removal of skin tags. Safety first! And advice from professionals should never miss on your lips whenever you want to treat your skin through any means whatsoever including this one too.
Comments