Skin tags, Growths, Moles

Skin tags, Growths, Moles

Overview

A skin tag or acrochordon is a small, soft, flesh-colored benign flap of skin tissue that hangs off by a peduncle or a connecting stalk.

They are probably the most common type of skin growth encountered in humans. They are harmless and usually of cosmetic concern, commonly found on the neck, chest, armpits, back, groin area, and even the eyelids. They are asymptomatic but may get irritated due to friction with clothing or jewelry.

Middle-aged, obese adults are at high risk of developing skin tags. Diabetes mellitus, hormonal variations such as pregnancy are other linked morbidities. It is important to pick up associated signs such as acanthosis nigricans (dark thickened skin over neck or armpits) which signal metabolic disturbances such as lipid and sugar imbalances.

We, at Sparsh Clinic, do not just focus on removing the skin tags but follow a holistic approach towards finding the underlying cause and hence, prevention of occurrence of more skin tags as much as possible. Removal of a skin tag does not necessitate that more won’t grow, but lifestyle modifications do help in this regard.

Other common benign (non-cancerous) skin growths include

  • Seborrhoeic keratosis – greasy, yellow–brown to black flat lesions on the skin that appear like they are stuck-on over the surface.
  • Dermatosis papulosa nigra – tiny, dark, slightly raised pin-point to pin-head-sized papules commonly on the face.
  • Ephelids/ Freckles – small, discrete, dark discoloration on cheeks or other sun-exposed areas of the body caused due to a focal increase in melanin in the skin. These tend to darken in the summer with increased sun exposure.
  • Lentigenes – resemble moles occurring on sun-exposed areas caused due to increase in the number of melanin-containing cells in the skin.
  • Cherry angiomas – red colored flat growths on the chest, abdomen or extremities caused due to vascular proliferation, usually increase with age.
  • Epidermal inclusion cyst – flesh-colored, firm nodules with a central punctum, resembling a blackhead in the initial stages, usually found on the face, scalp, or upper trunk of adults.
  • Milia – small pearly white papules occurring alone or in clusters over the face commonly.
  • Lipoma – soft, mobile tumors of fat under the skin occurring anywhere on the body, single or multiple, may vary in size from a few millimeters to even more than 10 centimeters.
  • Moles/Melanocytic nevi – usually dark brown to black colored, flat to dome-shaped growths derived from proliferating melanocytic nevus cells. Genetic preponderance, age, race, sun exposure are a few factors that determine their occurrence. They can even be skin-colored when the nevus cells lie deeper in the skin. It is important to scan the nevi thoroughly over the entire skin surface to look for signs of redness, asymmetry, variation in color, size, and borders to rule of cancerous changes especially in those who have a positive family history of skin cancers.

Procedure and Post Procedure

SUBCISION

Most of the above skin growths are benign and harmless. Treatment is warranted only for cosmetic concerns. However, atypical moles and rapidly growing or painful lesions must be subjected to surgical excision and biopsy to confirm the exact diagnosis. Many surgical removal options are available – scissor snip excision, elliptical surgical excision, curettage, electrofulguration, cryotherapy, chemical peels, and laser ablation to name a few. Each of these options are discussed with the patient and chosen as per the satisfaction of both the patient and the treating dermatosurgeon.