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Acrochordons is a very comman skin condition which growths of skin that some people develop on the face, neck, armpits, and the groin. Skin tags develop in both men and women as they grow older. Acrochordons are tiny skin protrusions, and may have a small narrow stalk connecting the skin bump to the surface of the skin. They are harmless and do not become cancerous or malignant. Acrochordons may be associated seborrheic keratoses. Acrochordons are usually flesh-colored, but may be darker in color. They are generally small, but can range in size from 1 millimeter to 5 centimeters in diameter. They are often found in folds of the skin. Acrochordons or 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.
Acrochordons can develop in both men and women as they grow older. Acrochordons are small in most cases and attach with a small stalk to the surface of the skin. They are painless and non-life threatening and are only irritated when rubbed or scratched. They do not cause pain in most cases but can become irritated if rubbed hard or snagged on something. If a acrochordon is torn there can be some heavy bleeding depending on the area of the body where it is located. Treatment is usually not necessary unless the cutaneous tags are irritating or are cosmetically displeasing and the diagnosis is conducted on the basis of appearance of the skin. Comfrey creams and infusions can be used for the treatment of acrochordons. In cases in which a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted, treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply, or cutting off the tag with a scalpel or scissors.
Causes of Acrochordons
The causes of Acrochordons are basically precise unknown. The tendency to develop skin tags is inherited. It is more than basically common in overweight individuals. Acrochordons consist of collagen fibers and blood vessels that are surrounded by a thin layer of skin. It can be irritating by friction of clothes or other materials. In addition, skin tags are more commonly found in individuals with diabetes mellitus and heredity does seem to be a factor.
Common causes and risk factors of Acrochordons:
- Human papilloma virus.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Skin chafing and irritation.
- Insulin resistance.
Signs and Symptoms of Acrochordons
Acrochordons are small benign tumors that occurs in areas where the skin forms creases, such as the neck, armpits, and groin and are harmless lesions that appear to hang off the skin. The skin tags are normally skin colored but they can be darker in color. Usual locations include the neck, armpits, and body folds but they can occur almost anywhere on the skin. Acrochordons do not cause pain in most cases but can become irritated if rubbed hard or snagged on something. If a acrochordon is torn there can be some heavy bleeding depending on the area of the body where it is located.
Sign and symptoms may include the following :
- Skin growth.
- May have a narrow stalk.
- Usually skin-colored, occasionally darker.
- Acrochordons are usually very small, but in some cases they may increase in size too, they may become half an inch long.
Treatment for Acrochordons
Treatment is usually not necessary unless the cutaneous tags are irritating or are cosmetically displeasing. Comfrey creams and infusions can be used for the treatment of acrochordons. A skin tag that has become irritated and causes the patient pain may be removed and some people have the skin tags removed because they are in an area easily seen. Both of these procedures are elective and may not be covered by medical insurance. Cryotherapy is another option. This is a very expensive procedure and takes a longer period of time.Using a cautery to electrically burn the tags off is also used.
Treatment may include:
- Small acrochordons respond well to electrofulguration.
- Small, pedunculated acrochordons may be removed with curved or serrated blade scissors, while larger skin tags may simply require excision.
- Larger lesions can be surgically removed.
- Cryotherapy is another option. In this procedure the acrochordons are frozen and then removed quickly and painlessly. This is a very expensive procedure and takes a longer period of time.
- Using a cautery to electrically burn the tags off is also used.
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