Acrochordon (skin tag) is a soft, harmless lesion that appears to hang off the skin. These develop in men and women. They are skin-colored or darker and range in size from 1mm to 5cm. They are often found in the skin folds (neck, groin, armpits). They are numerous in obese persons and diabetic patients.
Acrochordons have been divided into:
- Small lesions 1 to 2 mm in width and height, found on the neck, face, and the axillae (arm pits)
- Multiple lesions ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm in length can occur anywhere on the body
- Large pedunculated lesions may be as large as 2 – 5 cm and appear on the lower extremities.
Acrochordons (skin tags) have been found in the vulval region, where they can grow to a large size, the penis, anus, and even the urethra.
Symptoms:
Skin tags do not cause any symptoms. In some cases, friction from a skin tag rubbing against your skin, clothes, or jewellery can lead to discomfort or bleeding.
Causes:
Skin tags occur when the body produces excess cells in the top layers of the skin. They tend to form in the skin folds and areas where the excess movement causes the skin to rub against itself. Skin tags often grow in these areas:
- Armpits
- Neck
- Eyelids
- Groin or thighs
- Under the breasts
- Genitals
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will diagnose skin tags after a brief physical examination and medical history evaluation. Your doctor will ask about questions about your medical history, paying careful attention to conditions that raise your risk for skin tags. A quick exam helps rule outgrowths that may look like skin tags.
Treatment:
Various skin tag removal bands, patches, and creams are sold for “at-home” use. They rely on cutting off the blood supply to the head of the acrochordon. Ointments may contain salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and other irritants which may cause contact dermatitis. Tea tree oil is soaked in a cotton ball fixed to the skin tag with a bandage. Local irritation causes ischemia to the acrochordon. This method should be avoided for lesions on the eyelid.
Surgery:
Based on the size of the skin tag, your doctor will suggest the surgery, which includes:
- Cleansing the area of the acrochordon with an alcohol wipe
- Application of the Gate theory (tapping, massage, rubbing of hands, arms, legs, etc.) to reduce the perception of discomfort during the injection of local anesthetic
- Infiltration of the base of the skin tag with a local anesthetic
- Elevating the acrochordon with forceps
- Removing the lesion from the root
- Simple topical antibiotic ointment is applied
- No dressing is needed
After the Procedure:
- The treated area is usually kept open.
- The area can be washed gently with regular soap and water
- An ointment (antibiotic ointment) or a moisturizer may be applied twice a day to keep the area moist while it is healing
- A scab (crust) may form, which usually falls off in three to five days
- After the area is healed, a simple moisturizer and sunscreen with SPF 30 is used to prevent hyperpigmentation of the area
