Skin Tag: Is it a Medical or Cosmetic Condition?

More and more people nowadays are getting more conscious of our personal skin condition, and rightfully so! This a good direction for our overall health and well-being, hence an increasing demand for skin products such as health soaps, lotions, and sunblocks, among other personal skin care products.

Aside from the common acne and uneven skin tone concerns, another skin problem an increasing number of people in the older bracket encounter are skin tags!

Skin Tag Removal

Understanding Skin Tags

What Are Skin Tags?

What exactly are skin tags and what causes them to form? What can be done to address this problem? Are skin tags a medical or cosmetic issue?

The following material aims to addresses this common concern in more detail.

Skin tags are small pieces of excess soft skin that are attached by a stalk. While they can form on any area of the body, skin tags are most common in areas of high friction. This means that they commonly form in areas where clothing or other materials rub against the skin repeatedly. Skin tags are almost always painless, but they can become irritated by constant contact with clothing, jewelry, or other materials.

Differentiating Skin Tags from Other Abnormalities

Some people express concern over knowing how to tell skin tags apart from other potentially serious skin conditions. In fact, when unknown lumps appear on the surface of the skin, many people may fear that a skin cancer is to blame.

In general, however, it’s easy to differentiate between skin tags and skin cancer lesions. Skin tags tend to be a similar color as the surrounding skin. They also do not spread or grow the way that a concerning lesion would.

If you experience the development of a flesh-colored protrusion of skin, especially in an area of friction, it is more than likely a harmless skin tag. A medical professional can provide an accurate diagnosis quickly and easily.

What Causes Skin Tags?

The most common apparent cause of skin tags is repeated friction. This can be skin rubbing against skin, clothing rubbing against skin, or jewelry or other items rubbing against specific areas of the skin.

That said, skin tags can sometimes be more common in people who have specific health problems. For example, those with diabetes, hormonal problems, metabolic issues, and obesity have a higher likelihood of experiencing skin tags.

This means that skin tags can be indicators of poor underlying health, undiagnosed medical conditions, or poorly managed illnesses. If you seem to get a lot of skin tags on a continual basis, it may be worth your while to obtain a complete medical check-up to rule out underlying or poorly managed health problems.

For most people, however, skin tags are an especially common benign skin condition that occurs mainly in middle age due to excess friction.

What’s the Best Way to Treat Skin Tags?

Skin tags can easily be removed by a qualified medical professional, such as a plastic surgeon or skilled dermatologist. In fact, this is the ideal way to treat skin tags for a couple of distinct reasons.

First of all, self-treatment options are largely ineffective. Unless the entire stalk is removed, skin tags have a tendency to come back post-treatment. Secondly, removal by a skilled professional is quick, painless, and leaves behind no unsightly scarring.

Some people may think of plastic surgery as an invasive procedure. Where in fact, it is not always so. A good example would be the aforementioned skin tags, which are a common problem that can be addressed by a simple non-invasive plastic surgery procedure.

Is Skin Tag Removal Considered a Cosmetic Procedure?

Even though some people with specific health conditions may find they have a higher likelihood of developing skin tags, the condition itself is mainly seen as a cosmetic issue.

Overall, this means that skin tags do not cause disease or turn into a more serious problem in and of themselves. Many people do not like the way that skin tags look, so removal comes down to an issue of the cosmetic enhancement of the individual’s appearance.

In some cases, skin tags may become so irritated by external forces that they may become painful or bleed excessively. In these cases, the removal of the skin tag in question may exceed the terms of a cosmetic procedure.

If you have skin tags that continually bleed or cause discomfort due to constant contact with clothing or other materials, you should see a qualified medical professional who can discuss your treatment options with you in full.

What Type of Professional Can Remove Skin Tags?

Skin tags are most often removed by skilled plastic surgeons or in-demand dermatologists.

Plastic surgeons offer the in-depth training and expertise in dealing with the proper ways to remove skin tags so that the area does not scar. This can be especially important if you experience skin tags on your face, eyelids, or other highly visible areas.

Skin tag removal is performed in the office with a simple and pain-free procedure that typically takes minutes to perform. There is no need to continue to experience discomfort, aggravation, or embarrassment due to unsightly skin tags.

A quick office procedure can restore your confidence and allow you to put your best foot forward with pride every day.

Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD is a highly respected double board certified facial plastic surgeon. With over twenty years of experience in dealing with a wide variety of plastic surgery and reconstruction techniques, Dr. Schoenfeld is qualified to handle all of your most essential skin needs.

For skin tag removal in Washington DC and surrounding areas, contact the office of Dr. Philip S. Schoenfeld today for a complete consultation.

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Millions of people across the United States, the Philippines, or even other countries, experience minor annoyances with the appearance of skin tags which can be quickly remedied by a skilled plastic surgeon’s artistic hand. Don’t hesitate to have it removed by a medical professional near your area!

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