Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Skin Tags (Acrochordons) I. Definition: Skin tags (acrochordons) are small growths of skin that some people develop on the face, neck, armpits, and the groin. The medical name is acrochordon. They are harmless and do not become cancerous or malignant. II. Causes: The tendency to develop skin tags is inherited (runs in families). The precise cause is unknown. III. Treatment: Skin tags do not need treatment. 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 in a week or two. 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. 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. http://www.skinsite.com/info_skintags.htm ===== Skin tag removal: Can I do it myself? Q: How are skin tags removed? Can I do it myself? No name/ No state given A: Skin tags are small, soft, flesh-colored growths that protrude from your skin. They are generally harmless. However, if needed, skin tags can be snipped off with a scissors or removed with electrical current (electrodessication) in your dermatologist's office. It is generally not recommended that you remove skin tags yourself because of the increased risk of infection and excessive bleeding. In addition, other skin growths — such as moles, keratoses, hemagiomas and pyogenic granulomas — can resemble skin tags and should only be removed by a doctor. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-tags/AN00820 ===== What is a skin tag? A skin tag is a common, benign condition which consists of a bit of skin that projects from the surrounding skin and may appear attached to the skin. Skin tags can vary quite a bit in appearance. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented, and either simply be raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk (a peduncle) so that the skin tag hangs from the skin. Where do skin tags occur? Skin tags can occur almost anywhere there is skin. However, favorite areas for tags are the eyelids, neck, armpits (axillae), upper chest, and groin. Who tends to get skin tags? They are much more common with age beginning in middle age and they tend to be somewhat more prevalent in women than men. Is a skin tag a tumor? Yes, it is in the sense that it is a growth. However, it is a benign (harmless and not a malignant) condition. What does a skin tag look like under a microscope? The outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) shows overgrowth (hyperplasia) and it encloses an underlying layer of skin (the dermis) in which the normally-present collagen fibers appear abnormally loose and swollen. What problems do skin tags cause? Usually none. This tiny skin growth generally causes no symptoms unless it is repeatedly irritated as, for example, by the collar or in the crotch. How are skin tags treated? In cases in which a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted, treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply, or cutting off (excising) the tag with a scalpel or scissors. Is there another medical name for a skin tag? A skin tag is medically also termed a cutaneous papilloma or an acrochordon. However, a skin tag is best known as a skin tag. http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/article.htm Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Small Business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Well, some very interesting responses! No one in either family have skin tags, at least not in the last 2 generations, so maybe it skips a couple? Anyway, since neither my husband nor I had them before that time of extreme stress, I thought that may have had something to do with it. Except for one new one that's popped up a month or so ago (on me) they have stayed the same size, and none are bothersome in the least. I can even shave over them without cutting or nicking them. So, I guess I'll just live with them, but I think I'll give both the lavender oil and chromium p remedies a try, as I have both on hand at home. Thanks for all the responses - off to scent my armpits with flowers! 8 ) Cheers Andrea NZ On Thursday, July 13, 2006, at 05:32 PM, Daphne Bradshaw wrote: > Skin Tags (Acrochordons) > > I. Definition: > Skin tags (acrochordons) are small growths of skin that some people > develop on the face, neck, armpits, and the groin. The medical name is > acrochordon. They are harmless and do not become cancerous or > malignant. > > II. Causes: > The tendency to develop skin tags is inherited (runs in families). > The precise cause is unknown. > > III. Treatment: > Skin tags do not need treatment. > 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 in a week or two. > 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. 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. > http://www.skinsite.com/info_skintags.htm > > ===== > > Skin tag removal: Can I do it myself? > > Q: How are skin tags removed? Can I do it myself? > No name/ No state given > > A: Skin tags are small, soft, flesh-colored growths that protrude from > your skin. They are generally harmless. However, if needed, skin tags > can be snipped off with a scissors or removed with electrical current > (electrodessication) in your dermatologist's office. > > It is generally not recommended that you remove skin tags yourself > because of the increased risk of infection and excessive bleeding. In > addition, other skin growths — such as moles, keratoses, hemagiomas > and pyogenic granulomas — can resemble skin tags and should only be > removed by a doctor. > http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-tags/AN00820 > > ===== > > What is a skin tag? > > A skin tag is a common, benign condition which consists of a bit of > skin that projects from the surrounding skin and may appear attached > to the skin. Skin tags can vary quite a bit in appearance. They may be > smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented, and > either simply be raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk (a > peduncle) so that the skin tag hangs from the skin. > > Where do skin tags occur? > > Skin tags can occur almost anywhere there is skin. However, favorite > areas for tags are the eyelids, neck, armpits (axillae), upper chest, > and groin. > > Who tends to get skin tags? > > They are much more common with age beginning in middle age and they > tend to be somewhat more prevalent in women than men. > > Is a skin tag a tumor? > > Yes, it is in the sense that it is a growth. However, it is a benign > (harmless and not a malignant) condition. > > What does a skin tag look like under a microscope? > > The outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) shows overgrowth > (hyperplasia) and it encloses an underlying layer of skin (the dermis) > in which the normally-present collagen fibers appear abnormally loose > and swollen. > > What problems do skin tags cause? > > Usually none. This tiny skin growth generally causes no symptoms > unless it is repeatedly irritated as, for example, by the collar or in > the crotch. > > How are skin tags treated? > > In cases in which a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted, > treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying > off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply, > or cutting off (excising) the tag with a scalpel or scissors. > > Is there another medical name for a skin tag? > > A skin tag is medically also termed a cutaneous papilloma or an > acrochordon. However, a skin tag is best known as a skin tag. > http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/article.htm > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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