I know how it goes…
You’re either exfoliating your body with the new body scrub you received on Mother’s Day, having your daughter apply sunscreen to the areas you can’t reach, or having your partner zip up your little black dress on date night, and “uh-oh”…
You, your daughter, or your partner are left to discover a never-before-seen skin tag!
You are now left wondering:
How did this get here?
When did it get here?
Has it been here for years and I haven’t even noticed?
How can I get it removed?
Is it dangerous?
Now, before you jump to thinking “Do I have Cancer”, let’s talk about skin tags and understand them a little better. Skin tags, otherwise known as acrochordons, are very common skin growths that are known to affect 50-60% of the population. This means your mom, your neighbor Dan from across the street, and Cheryl, who picks up her kids from school at 3 PM on the dot, have most likely had at least one of these “hidden rascals” during their lifetime!
What exactly are skin tags?
Skincare physician Dr. Shehla Ebrahim would describe skin tags as small growths of “heaped up skin”, which may appear anywhere from early teenage hood to mid-adulthood, and could seemingly “multiply” as you age.
Skin tags don’t discriminate– both men and women can expect to welcome at least one too many skin tags as add-ons to their bodies as they age. If you are 70 years young, it’s your lucky day– as you may start to welcome fewer skin tags during this time!
Typically, skin tags are painless, love to form on skin folds (due to friction), and are between 1-5 mm in size. They may also appear brown, red, or match the colour of your skin.
Are skin tags harmful?
Though skin tags aren’t always cosmetically pleasing and have the potential of getting caught in your necklace or clothes, they are harmless. With that being said, even though skin tags themselves don’t pose a risk to your body, that isn’t to say that they can’t be a great indicator of conditions happening beneath the surface.
For example, studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between skin tags and people suffering from obesity, diabetes, abnormal lipid profile, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome (MeTS). They are also prone in people with a family history of skin tags.
So no, skin tags alone are not harmful, but they could be a sign or extension to internal health conditions that you may be facing.
Cue your sigh of relief!
What treatment options are available?
“How are these little skin lesions treated (or zapped) anyway?”
Vancouver-based skin care physician Dr. Shehla Ebrahim has three treatment recommendations for you:
Under this procedure, a pair of forceps will be used to secure the lesion’s growth firmly, and then the doctor gently pulls it out of your skin. A small set of curved scissors will slightly lift the growth from under and around the skin. The entire procedure is carried out under anesthesia for the patient’s comfort and smooth experience. Also, the process doesn’t need any sutures, so the chances of scar formation are minimized.
This procedure is a minor surgery and is mostly performed on an outpatient basis– meaning you are clear to leave following the procedure. Before the treatment, the doctor will apply a numbing agent to block the affected region’s pain. Using a curette surgical tool, which has a sharp spoon-shaped end, the doctor removes the lesions. The wounded area is then cauterized with the help of the electrosurgical unit. This step is crucial, as it kills all the unhealthy cells present on the skin, cleanses the treated region, and seals the wound to inhibit bleeding. Once the numbness wears off, you may feel tenderness around the wounded area. The pain gets managed through prescribed painkillers. A scab may form on the treated area, which naturally wears off with time, revealing your healthy, natural-looking skin. Dr. Shehla Ebrahim usually recommends curettage and cautery treatment when the patient’s lesion area is soft compared to the surrounding skin.
This treatment refers to a medical procedure that uses a minimally invasive technique to freeze or destroy abnormal tissue. It is commonly known as cryosurgery or cryoablation. The process involves extremely cold instruments and Liquid Nitrogen spray for the patient’s comfort.
Where Can You Seek Skin Tag Treatment?
At this point, there is no doubt that you know more about skin tags than the average person, and are feeling a sense of relief that skin tags themselves aren’t causing you any harm.
But I bet you’re still reading because now that you know the ins and outs of skin tags, you now have a new question:
“Where can I get this annoying, necklace-catching, skin tag removed!”
I guess I should now introduce myself. I am Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, a skincare physician that specializes in dermatological services. Throughout the years, I have helped numerous people just like you remove unwanted lumps and bumps from their skin.
If you are in the Vancouver area, I’d love to meet you via an in-person consultation to see how I can help free your skin tag from your necklace (or your necklace from your skin tag). Click HERE to book your appointment with me and we can get you taken care of right away.