| Skin Tags A skin tag is a small benign tumor that forms primarily in areas where the skin forms creases, such as the neck, armpit, and groin. They may also occur on the face, usually on the eyelids. Though larger have been seen, they are usually between the size of a grain of rice and a golf ball. The surface of an acrochordon may be smooth or irregular in appearance. Skin tags contain nerve cells, acrochorda cannot be painlessly removed without anesthesia (usually local). It is common for the procedure to be done as an in-office treatment by a dermatologist or general practitioner but if too large may require outpatient surgery in a hospital. Patients report that the removal of a skin tag is similar to a strong pinch on a sensitive area. Skin tags are normally harmless, although they are sometimes irritated by clothing or jewelry and can interfere with shaving and other routine grooming. Very large skin tags may burst if under pressure and require hospital admission and surgery. Why and how skin tags form is not entirely known, but there are correlations with age and obesity. They are more common in people with diabetes mellitus and in pregnant women. Acrochorda have been reported to have an incidence of 46% in the general population. |
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