What is Acrochordon?
Acrochordons, also known as skin tags or papillomas, are harmless growths that frequently appear on the skin and are often linked with being overweight. These small, soft bumps commonly form around the neck, armpit, and groin areas and can be a nuisance for people. Some individuals experience discomfort such as pain, itching, or irritation from clothes rubbing against the skin tag. Others may simply not like how they look. Skin tags have a known connection to both insulin resistance and obesity, and there seems to be a genetic component, meaning they could run in families.
What Causes Acrochordon?
The cause of acrochordons, also known as skin tags, isn’t entirely clear. However, some theories suggest that they are likely to appear in areas where the skin doesn’t have much elastic tissue, leading to skin lesions that can be flat or shaped like a stalk. Hormonal imbalances could also be a factor influencing their development. Other factors that contribute to the growth of skin tags are growth elements present in our tissues and infections. Skin tags generally increase as we get older and can cause cosmetic concerns, often affecting people’s self-esteem.
Diagnosing skin tags can be tricky without microscopic examination because they resemble other harmless skin growths like moles and neurofibromas. Yet, since these are all benign conditions, confirming the diagnosis would typically not affect treatment decisions.
There’s a rare genetic disorder known as Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome that’s often mentioned when discussing skin tags. This condition is characterized by multiple skin growths similar to skin tags. Also, a variant of the most common skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), may sometimes resemble skin tags. Specifically, a type of BCC known as fibroepithelioma of Pinkus can appear much like a skin tag, usually on the lower back, but it is of a pinkish hue.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Acrochordon
Acrochordons, also known as skin tags, are quite common, affecting about 46% of people. The frequency of these skin tags increases as people get older. Even though they’re so widespread, there’s no need to worry. Skin tags are harmless and not a cause for concern.
Signs and Symptoms of Acrochordon
These are small and soft growths that often hang off the skin. They typically appear on the neck, armpit, and groin folds, but they can show up almost anywhere on the body. These growths may blend in with your skin color or appear darker. Their size usually ranges from 2 to 5 millimeters, but larger ones can also occur. Most of the time, they don’t cause any symptoms. However, they can become itchy or even painful and inflamed if they snag on clothing or jewelry.
- Small, soft growths
- Commonly found on the neck, armpits, and groin folds
- Can appear almost anywhere on the skin
- May blend with skin color or appear darker
- Typically 2 to 5 millimeters in size, but can be larger
- Generally do not cause symptoms
- May become itchy, painful, or inflamed if snagged by clothing or jewelry
Testing for Acrochordon
Usually, no lab tests or imaging is required for the treatment of acrochordons (skin tags). However, if a doctor thinks it’s necessary to have multiple skin tags tested in the lab, each tag should be placed in its own, uniquely labelled container. This is really important, because if one of the skin tags turns out to be a worrisome growth like malignant melanoma, doctors would need to know which specific area it came from. It would be unclear where the concerning growth came from if all the skin tags were placed together in the same container.
Treatment Options for Acrochordon
Acrochordons, commonly known as “skin tags,” are harmless growths on the skin. There are a variety of ways these can be treated:
– Snip Excision: This is a simple procedure where the skin tag is snipped off using small, sharp scissors. This method is quick and usually very effective. It’s not always necessary to use anesthesia for the smallest skin tags.
– Cryotherapy: This treatment involves applying liquid nitrogen directly to the skin tag using forceps or a tool known as Cryo Tweezers, or spraying it on from a cryogun. Cryo Tweezers are typically very effective and less painful. This treatment is great for treating multiple skin tags at once.
– Shave Excision: Larger skin tags might be removed by shaving or snipping them off after injecting the base with local anesthesia to numb the area.
– Electrodesiccation: This treatment is used for removing very tiny skin tags, which are too small to grab with forceps. It involves drying out the skin tag by applying heat from an electric current.
Regular check-ups are typically not needed after these procedures.
If there’s a possibility that a patient might also have another skin condition called acanthosis nigricans, they should be informed about the potential risk of diabetes. Those patients should be referred back to their primary care doctor and start discussions about modifying their diet and exercise routines. Even if the skin tags are the only issue, it’s a good idea for doctors to promote healthy eating and exercise habits, since these patients often also suffer from conditions like obesity, diabetes, or prediabetes. These healthy lifestyle changes can offer benefits beyond just the skin exam.
What else can Acrochordon be?
Some health conditions may mimic or look similar to skin tags:
- Warts: Specifically, long and thin warts can be mistaken for skin tags. The locations where they appear often help with differentiation.
- Neurofibromas: These skin growths are benign (non-cancerous) and can grow out from the skin on a stalk, which may cause them to resemble skin tags.
- Naevi: These are small skin growths, often pigmented, that may look like skin tags. It’s usually their size, color pattern, and location that help doctors tell them apart from skin tags.
- Seborrheic keratoses: In particular, a version of this condition called dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) tends to appear on the face, showing as small raised bumps that may look similar to skin tags. This condition is typically more common in people of African-American heritage.
In all these cases, doctors need to examine the growth carefully to differentiate it from skin tags. They may need to consider its size, location, color, and pattern.
What to expect with Acrochordon
This is a harmless skin condition that usually doesn’t require any treatment, unless it becomes irritated or if the person wants to improve their appearance. Assuring the patient that the condition is non-threatening typically helps to reduce their anxiety.
Preventing Acrochordon
Doctors should let patients know that these growths are not harmful or dangerous. They can be removed only if they cause some discomfort, irritation, or if the patient has concerns about their appearance.
If patients are overweight, they are encouraged to lose weight. This could help prevent new skin tags from forming and also improve their overall health.
