Skin tags are small benign skin growths that are attached to the inner layer of the skin by a short, narrow stalk called a "peduncle." They vary in size and can measure anywhere from a few millimetres to 5cm wide.
Other names that skin tags are known by are, among others:
• Acrochordons
• Cutaneous papilloma
• Cutaneous tag
They generally occur at the midlife stage of an individual, and a person can develop them in numbers during their lifetime. Skin tags are also a common occurrence, more so among overweight individuals and pregnant women.
Skin tags can develop anywhere on the body but are more commonly found in areas such as skin folds or where skin tends to rub against each other and where skin rubs against clothing.
The exact cause is not certain, but friction, skin against skin or skin against clothing, seems to be the most common cause. Elevated hormone activities as a result of pregnancy are also a cause. People with certain conditions like Type II Diabetes, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), and Crohn's disease are also susceptible to skin tags.
They usually start off small, and some stay that way while others grow bigger. They are mostly soft to the touch, appear flattened, and range in size.
Skin tags can appear in other skin conditions, such as benign melanocytic nevi, molluscum contagiosum, or seborrheic keratosis.
Skin tags may appear and are most commonly found in areas such as the:
• eyelids
• armpits
• under the breasts
• groin
• upper chest
• neck
Most skin tags are skin-coloured but may become darker due to loss of blood supply. They may also fall off naturally.
The reason skin tags increase in size could be due to hormonal changes and increased levels of growth factors. In some cases, multiple skin tags are a result of hormonal imbalance or an endocrine problem. Those at risk include people with insulin resistance.
In general, skin tags do not grow back after removal. If skin tags develop in the same areas again, it could mean that the areas are prone to their growth.
Depending on the patient's clinical condition, the cost of skin tag removal will be further advised during the consultation and assessment.
The treated area will be numbed with an anaesthetic cream or injection. This will be followed by a snip excision and electrocautery of the skin tags.
A patient can expect some scabbing over the next 7 to 10 days. Post-procedure aftercare advice will be given, and patients are recommended to follow them diligently to facilitate optimum healing.
Warts are infectious skin lesions that can spread if left untreated. Unlike skin tags which are smooth and soft, warts tend to be rougher with an irregular surface.
Warts can spread easily via direct contact, through breaks in the skin – from person to person or from one body part to another, so maintaining good personal hygiene is important. Warts virus infections are also unpredictable, and the virus could have actually been residing on the upper layer of skin for a long time before it became visible.
This virus triggers cell growth, resulting in the thickening of the skin's outer layer. Warts are typically small and noncancerous.
The different types of warts are as follows:
Common Warts
These are skin-coloured and mostly found on areas such as the backs of hands, the fingers, the skin around nails, and the feet. They are usually small in size and feel like hard bumps or rough to the touch. They may contain tiny blood clots which appear as black dots.
Plantar Warts
They appear on the sole of the feet. This is caused by the pressure from walking and standing. As they are also rough and hard in nature, they may be confused with calluses. One telltale sign is the presence of tiny black dots on the surface, which are blood clots.
Flat Warts
They are tiny in size but tend to grow in large numbers. The most common areas where they can be found are on a woman's legs, the area of the face where a man's beard grows, and also on children's faces.
Filiform Warts
These grow fast and appear thread-like and spiky. They tend to develop around the mouth, eyes, and nose. Although they do not hurt, they are annoying, considering the areas where they can be found.
Genital Warts
They tend to be small and scattered. They appear as skin-coloured bumps or like a cluster of bumps similar to bits of cauliflower. They can spread easily and, as the name suggests, are usually caught when a person has sex with an infected person. It is advisable to not remove them on one's own but to seek medical help.
Depending on the patient's clinical condition, the cost of wart removal will be further advised during the consultation and assessment.
At Amaris B. Clinic, we provide skin tags and wart removal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.