Hello doctor, my name is Shanita. I developed skin tags when I was pregnant, and they have refused to go, it has been a year since I gave birth. My friends tell me they will disappear but they have not. Please advice.
Dear Shanita,
Skin tags also known as acrochordons which present mostly on the side of the neck, armpits, and groin are visible, soft, distinct outgrowth of heaped up skin which are usually non-cancerous by nature, occurring more commonly in individuals suffering from obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, young females with multiple cysts in the ovaries (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and in people with a family history of skin tags.
They affect men and women equally, with 50 to 60 per cent of adults estimated will develop them in their lifetime, with the probability of their occurrence increasing after the fourth decade of life.
In pregnancy
Those developing in pregnancy fall off on their own after pregnancy when hormone levels return to normal and hence do not require treatment; however, we must make sure these are not due to cancer or viral infections called moles and warts respectively.
Treating skin tags can increase comfort and peace of mind during pregnancy since they are known to produce significant discomfort.
Treatment
The most effective treatment for removing a skin tag is Diathermy which uses heat to cauterize (burn the skin or fresh of (a wound) with a heated instrument) harmlessly. Heat is delivered through a very fine needle directly onto (not into) the area of concern, immediately dissolving the skin tag and stopping blood flow to broken capillaries. Other safe methods include excision (cutting out with a surgical knife) and cryosurgery (freeze and destroy with nitrogen).
Don’t try it at home
You must never try to remove the skin tags at home. Without proper technique and a sterile environment, the risk for excessive bleeding and infection increases. Not mentioning that, a tumor may result if a nerve growth in the skin tag gets cut, resulting in chronic pain for some weeks or even months (neuroma). If you are not sure of the lesion, visit a dermatologist.
