What are skin tags?

By Cristiano Antonino On Jun 12, 2023

Skin tags are small growths, not dangerous to health, which, however, can cause stress and discomfort

They often appear on the hands and feet, but can also appear on more hidden areas of the body.

They can also occur in young people with low immune defenses and are very common.

This term indicates various types of growths, certainly the best known are warts, which, being caused by a virus, are very contagious.

They usually do not present particular complications and evolve into malignant or more serious pathologies.

However, these are annoying formations that can cause embarrassment, especially if they appear, as often happens, in particularly evident areas.

It is usually rare that the doctor requests in-depth examinations and an initial appointment with the dermatologist is sufficient to establish the nature of the lesion.

Treatments include minimally invasive interventions or natural products which, especially for smaller leeks, can help reduce their size.

A skin leek is, therefore, a benign neoformation and not dangerous for the patient’s health

The annoyance it causes is only aesthetic: skin tags cannot degenerate into neoplasms or malignant tumors.

However, it may happen that the leek, especially if it becomes very large, runs the risk of suffering rheumatism which leads to its detachment, with consequent bleeding and risk of skin infection.

A skin leek appears by contact especially at times when the immune system is most debilitated due to stress, illness or poor diet.

Some people are more prone to contracting the virus, for genetic reasons.

Types of skin tags

Leeks tend not to be dangerous but they are unsightly and can also cause various kinds of discomfort.

This term actually refers to different types of growths that have different causes and similar manifestations.

The common leeks are warts, which appear as small growths, located mainly on the face, hands, soles of the feet and genitals (in this case they are also called condylomas or cockscombs).

These growths do not evolve into malignant tumors, but they can transmit the Papillomavirus, which is the cause.

Another formation to which the name of leek is often attributed is the so-called “digital fibrokeratoma”, an excrescence that appears on the fingers and toes and differs from normal warts because it is separated from the surrounding skin by a furrow.

It is a hard fibroma that does not evolve.

Finally, the name “porro” is used to indicate “pendulous fibroids”, elongated growths attached through a thin peduncle, which allows them to be distinguished from other skin growths, such as warts.

They appear especially near the neck, armpits and around the eyes. They are generally a few millimeters large, but in some cases they can reach a centimeter in diameter.

They appear for genetic causes and are not linked to the appearance of tumors. They should be removed only if they cause discomfort due to the position or for aesthetic reasons.

Then there are some types of leeks that differ in shape:

plantar ones, which are found on the sole of the foot (often confused with calluses because they are rough to the touch and subject to desquamation and thickening);
flat ones, which are flat and not too large, somewhat raised and with a color ranging from gray to brown. They usually affect the face or arms but can also appear around the nails and on the knees;
those filiform, which appear as thin growths around the mouth or nose, white or gray in color;
periungual ones that grow near the nails or on the nails themselves and are usually the most painful type of wart.

Leeks tend to have a strong genetic component

In the same family, more subjects have a tendency to develop these growths and this is why one of the first questions that the dermatologist asks concerns precisely the presence of this disorder in the family history.

“Leek” is actually a term that is commonly used to indicate different formations that appear on the skin, but in most cases they are warts, or lesions of viral origin, whose responsible virus is the Papilloma virus (HPV).

This means that these skin tags are contagious and considering that the incubation of the virus can take place even in 6 months, the probability of infecting other people is very high.

Another cause of their appearance can be a condition of diabetes or being overweight.

However, they could also be caused by rubbing, which is why they appear above all in areas such as the hands, feet, neck, armpits and chest.

As far as the causes of skin fibroids are concerned, it is hypothesized that these are due to the prolonged rubbing of the skin surfaces.

They can also be a consequence of pregnancy: hormonal changes that occur in a woman’s body increase the risk of developing these growths.

It is easy for a dermatologist to diagnose skin tags

To diagnose common warts, in particular, a dermatological visit is necessary during which the doctor, through the simple observation of the growth, defines its extent.

In case of doubt, the specialist may take a small sample to be analyzed in the laboratory in order to rule out other pathologies.

In the case of skin tags, even of considerable size, since they do not give rise to clinical concern (they are also called acrochordons), generally they do not require laboratory, radiographic or other tests, but possibly proceed with histological examination.

On examination, a papillary dermis emerges composed of freely arranged collagen fibers and dilated capillaries and lymphatic vessels, without appendicular structures.

Treat leeks

If the leeks are inflamed, cause pain, bleed or are located in a particularly uncomfortable and rubbing part of the body, you should consult a dermatologist.

In fact, the doctor can recommend solutions to eliminate skin tags which include:

cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen to be applied directly on the leek, exploits the freezing caused by this substance (it may require more than one session but usually leads to the resolution of the problem);
the use of the laser (consists of subjecting the leek to laser sources which heat the tissue until it vaporises, then it is medicated with an antibiotic cream and a plaster is kept for a week);
electrocoagulation (operation by electrosurgical unit in which the lesion is removed with minimal local anesthesia, if the dimensions suggest it).

In the most difficult cases, surgical treatment with a scalpel is opted for and some of these treatments require the use of a mild anesthesia (for example an ointment) but generally they are not very painful and last only a few minutes.

The only caveat is that warts may recur even in the same area despite surgery.

Prevent its appearance

In the case of warts, the contagion occurs by touching the lesion or objects with which it has been in contact (such as towels).

So you can avoid leeks caused by viruses such as Papilloma, or warts, simply by paying attention.

Just wash your hands often, don’t touch warts and warts on your body or that of another person, don’t use towels from other people who suffer from them and always keep your hands and feet dry.

In the gym and in the swimming pool you must never take a shower with bare feet but always with slippers to avoid the appearance of plantar warts.

It is necessary to carefully take care of the state of skin hygiene (the presence of skin lesions facilitates the entry of viruses, while healthy, well hydrated and wound-free skin is more resistant to viral attack).

If they are about to appear, you shouldn’t try to pierce them or remove them yourself but rather cover them with gauze and contact a dermatologist.

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