Acrochordons - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

Acrochordons is also known as Cutaneous tags. Cutaneous tags are very common, generally benign skin growths that occur most often after midlife. They are tiny skin protrusions, and may have a small narrow stalk connecting the skin bump to the surface of the skin. They are generally painless and do not grow or change, except for occasional irritation resulting from rubbing by clothing or other friction .

They are generally painless and do not grow or change, except for occational irritation resulting from rubbing by clothing or other friction. Acrochordons can vary quite a bit in appearance. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented or either simply be raised above the surrounding skin. Acrochordons are very common soft harmless lesions that appear to hang off the skin. Acrochordons can develop in both men and women as they grow older.

Symptoms

The possible symptoms may include as:-

• Skin growth generally very small, may have a narrow stalk and usually located on neck, armpits, trunk, body folds, or other areas.
• Larger tags may be pedunculated, hanging from the body by an attachment.
• Skin growth is usually skin coloured but sometimes darker.
• If the skin tag is twisted on its stalk, a blood clot may develop within it and the skin tag may become painful.

Causes

The exact cause is not known, but it is mainly induced by the following factors:-

• Chaffing and irritation from skin rubbing together.
• Human papilloma virus, is the main cause of the acrochordons.
• The two factors Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and alpha tissue growth factor (TGF) have also been implicated in the development of tumors such as these.
• Genetic cause:the tendency to develop skin tags is inherited that is runs in families.
• Insulin resistance:excess collection of insulin in the body may be a cause for the disease.

Treatment

It includes:-

• The treatment os acrochordons is usually not necessary unless the cutaneous tags are irritating or are cosmetically displeasing.
• The growths may be surgically removed, removed by freezing, or electrically burning off . Healing is usually complete in a week or two.
• New skin tags may form even if all existing tags are removed.
• Some people have their skin tags disappear if they take chromium picolinate 200 mcg twice a day. This mineral must be taken for 3 months to see the results and if you stop taking the chromium the tags will recur.
• Doctors generally remove skin tags with sharp scissors, a sharp blade or by freezing or burning them off at the stalk. Bleeding can be stopped with a chemical (aluminum chloride) or electric (cauterizing) treatment.