Skin Tags — What Are These Fleshy Skin Flaps & How To Untag Them

Familiar with tagging on Facebook and hashtags on Instagram and Twitter? There is another tag that loves to ‘hang around’ known as the ‘Skin Tags.’ Although harmless, their removal becomes an absolute essential for cosmetic or comfort reasons.

Skin tags have been a source of embarrassment for many men and women around the world. The good news? It is now possible to get rid of them with no major pain, severe risks, and that too for good!

People have been trying to remove these flesh colored outgrowths of the skin on their own. Why? Because these tags often make people conscious about themselves and shatter their confidence too. Women and men also complain of irritation while shaving, makeup application, or while wearing jewelry.

 

What Are Skin Tags?

Have you ever noticed small or large flesh colored skin outgrowths anywhere on your body? Well, these are usually harmless flaps of skin that can range in sizes, shapes, and even color!
These are very common in men and women, usually occurring in areas where your skin folds, creases, and rubs.
According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, Acrochordons, commonly known as skin tags, are normally skin-colored growths, but some may be darker in color, depending on your complexion.
Skin tags do not necessarily feel itchy or cause pain. However, depending on the area where they develop, they might catch on clothing or jewelry and lead to irritation or even bleeding.

What Do Skin Tags Look Like?

Everyone’s skin is different and so is their lifestyle, genes. Hence, these outgrowths can also vary in shapes, size and even color. 

If you are wondering what this unwanted skin condition looks like then you can easily spot them as flesh-colored outgrowth of skin that can be as small as just 1 millimeter to as the size of a grape!

Usually, these tags are identified by a stalk that connects it to the underlying skin. Moreover, very small skin tags may appear on your skin as raised patches or bumps.

Skin Tag vs Mole

Many people tend to get confused between a skin tag and a mole and Cosmexperts are here to help you understand the basic difference between them. 

Your moles may be of brown color. These dark spots are slow to develop and do not change a lot, however they do have the ability to sprout hair.

Moles are non-contagious and occur in sun-exposed areas such as your arms, facial areas, neck, back, decolletage and chest.

Skin Tag vs Wart

Another common confusion that leads you to scratch your head is how to tell between a wart and skin tag. Warts, like skin , are irritating, and they seem grainy and rough in appearance.

There is no hair coming out from either of these spots. Moreover, warts, like skin tags, are usually colorless. Warts are also typically deep and thick and might appear on your hands, your knees, or the soles of your feet.

Warts Are Caused By Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Furthermore, warts are most commonly caused by a virus. They’re also spreadable, like all viruses. Therefore,  whenever you spot a wart, you can guess that you may have come into contact with another person who has a wart virus, either by shaking hands or sharing the same towel.

Top 6 Causes Of Skin Tags

One of the most common questions you ask yourself is, why do you get skin tags? Can skin tags be cancerous? Even though the exact cause of these unsightly skin outgrowths is still unknown, experts, on the other hand, feel that friction between skin folds contributes to their formation.

Hence, skin tags may develop as a result of irritation or friction on the skin. Also, it has been found that these skin flaps may develop due to friction between surrounding skin patches or between clothes and skin in many scenarios.

Two confirmed factors were identified in a study published in the Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences:

• Advancing Age

  Skin tags are most common in persons in their 40s and 50s.

• Body Mass Index

Skin tags were linked to those with high BMIs. Maintaining a healthy weight is an excellent approach to guarantee that you’re doing everything you can to avoid the growth of such flaps of skin.

Other important factors include:

• Body Brushing or Friction

Skin brushing against your own skin, such as that seen in skin creases, might be a factor.

• Diabetes

Insulin resistance is believed to play a role in the growth of skin tags.

• Human Papillomavirus

 As per a research, a large percentage of persons with skin tags tested positive for the human papillomavirus HPV. This prompts the need for the removal of these fleshy outgrowths.

• Genetics

It is very much possible that your annoying tags are a result of genetic link. Cosmexperts have seen many patients suffering from this skin condition that also runs in their families.

Are Skin Tags Dangerous?

Absolutely not! Just because your flesh colored flaps of skin look unpleasant to look at doesn’t mean they are necessarily harmful too. These are basically benign and harmless. Although a nuisance for many people, they do not indicate that you might be developing skin cancer.

If you are still unsure about these outgrowths, it is advised to seek consultation at a skin tag removal clinic such as CosmeDocs, to determine the type of your skin tag.

Cosmexperts, however, do suggest having your skin checked by a dermatologist, who can carry out a biopsy to rule out the chances of skin cancer if you notice your skin tag getting bigger and hurts or bleeds. No need to worry because in such a case, you may be advised to opt for a skin tag removal treatment.

Don’t Ignore Your Skin Tags

The occurrence of several skin tags has been linked to the development of diabetes in several studies. Moreover, this condition can also occur in people who have Crohn’s disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or fatty liver disease.

Hence, it will not be entirely wrong to say that it’s similar to a key indicator of your health. This indicator has to be examined to ensure there aren’t any other underlying health concerns to be informed about.

When To See A Doctor?

Normally, this condition does not pose any health risks, but they can be prickly at times, especially if they rub against clothes. The only time you should be visiting a doctor is if they changes color, becomes very irritating, or grows larger.

Removal of skin tags is mostly for cosmetic reasons since some people might not like the way they look on their skin.

3 Most Crucial Reasons To Seek Professional Help

We understand that this skin condition can get difficult to deal with, and many people try to get rid of their tags on their own! However, you must also understand that this can be very dangerous and may even cause tissue death.

  1. You Can Scar Yourself

Anything can happen to your skin, the largest organ of your body. Hence, it needs professional medical services and treatments, not at home but skin tag removal clinic. 

Your fleshy, dangling tags result from collagen clumps and blood vessels trapped inside thicker skin layers. Therefore, skin experts at CosmeDocs don’t think it’s a great idea to cut them off yourself and create complications.

    2.  A Doctor Avoids Infection Risk

When doctors make incisions in the skin, they observe strict protocols and guidelines that greatly limit the risk of infection. When you try to remove a tag all by yourself using unsterilized tools, you can contract a nasty infection or a serious accident. Better safe than sorry!

    3. Avoid Too Much Blood Loss

A professional usually inquire about your medical history and whether you are currently on any medications before kickstarting your treatment.

Why is this piece of information valuable? Well, it helps your dermatologist determine what may be causing difficult-to-stop bleeding and take the appropriate measures.

It’s simple to puncture a blood artery or slice into a vein without realizing it if you don’t know what you’re doing.

How To Remove Skin Tags With Medical Treatments?

Your skin tags are more likely to stay with you for the rest of your life if left untreated. As mentioned earlier, skin tag removal at home, such as cutting off skin tags or using products claiming to be the best skin tag remover in town, can be hazardous.

Cosmexperts experts seek the services of the best skin tag removal clinic such as CosmeDocs to have your annoying skin outgrowths removed for good. Today, you can choose from a range of treatment options for skin tags to get quick relief from skin tag misery.

Options include:

• Cryotherapy

Liquid nitrogen is used to remove the skin tags in the method of cryotherapy. Both small and large skin tag may be cleared up with this procedure since it is quite safe and effective. This approach aims to cut off blood supply to your tags using short freezing and liquefying sessions.

It is important to note that you may need to visit an eye specialist for a skin tag on eyelid. Cryotherapy skin tag removal procedure is only carried out in a clinic by a dermatologist. Therefore, we advise people to avoid skin tag freezing kit to avoid any unnecessary complications.

• Electrocautery Skin Tag Removal

Electrocautery is a method of eliminating annoying skin tags by cauterizing your tag with numerous touches of the electrocautery device. Do not worry, your skin will be numbed before the procedure. Your skin tag, as a result, dries out and turns black, and it will either fall off right away or in one to two weeks.

This minimally non-invasive procedure is hassle free, and the downtime depends on the location of your skin tag and your own healing ability.

• Excision:

Surgical skin tag removal using a scalpel is another practical approach. It may be slightly invasive for many patients, but you can achieve desirable results if performed by a qualified professional.

The process involves numbing the affected area with a topical numbing cream. In the next step, your skin outgrowth will be removed entirely using a scalpel and special medical scissors. Hence, leaving your skin clear with a slightly white or pink scar that heals gradually.

Skin Tags Removal Before And After Transformations

How To Prevent Skin Tags

It is not possible to completely prevent the development of these extra flaps of skin, although you can lower the chances of getting one by maintaining a healthy weight. Other prevention tips include:

• Follow a diet plan that contains meals low in saturated fat and calories.
• Perform exercise at medium, or high intensity for 20-30 minutes a day.
• Avoid clothing or jewelry that irritates your skin.

Ready To Say Goodbye To Your Skin Tags With Cosmedocs?

Cosmexperts want their patients to love their skin and not just feel okay with it. If these fleshy skin flaps make you feel conscious and affect your confidence, step right into one of CosmeDoc’s clinics throughout the UK. Let skin experts at Cosmedocs take care of your skin concerns safely and efficiently.

How Do Our Experts Rescue You?

CosmeDocs can quickly, safely, and effectively help you with those pesky and irritating flaps of skin as they appear anywhere on your body. Skin tags become history with our surgical and non-surgical treatments offered at CosmeDocs.

Love The Skin You’re In!

CosmeDocs ❤️