Skin tags, also called acrochordons or papillomas, are benign skin growths that appear as flesh-colored, soft, hanging skin. They affect both genders equally, and generally occur on the neck, underarms, groin, eyelids, or under the breasts. The tags consist of loose bundles of blood vessels and collagen fibers, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society (NZDS), and require no treatment unless they become irritated or are cosmetically displeasing. While the exact cause is unclear, many factors are associated with an increased risk of developing skin tags.
Friction
The incidence of skin tags is higher in obese persons, and in those who perform repetitive movements that result in irritation and chafing of the skin. In a 2008 article published in the Dermatology Online Journal, Drs. Francisco Allegue, Carmen Fachal, and Lidia Pérez-Pérez reported that friction may increase the risk of skin tags by causing epidermal thickening and cellular proliferation. This may also explain why skin tags are more likely to develop in skin folds, such as under the arms and in the groin region.
Hormones
Skin tags are more common in pregnant women, according to the March of Dimes, and may occur in response to hormonal changes in the body. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that they are also more common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder; the NZDS adds that the incidence of skin tags is higher in those with gigantism and other conditions where growth-factor hormone is elevated --- suggesting a relationship between skin tags and hormonal imbalances.
HPV Virus
One possible cause of skin tags is infection with human papillomavirus, or HPV, according to the NZDS. A study published in the "Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology" in 2008 found that HPV plays a role in the formation of skin tags, with DNA from two HPV types found in nearly half of the tags researchers analyzed.
Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance appears to be a factor in the formation of skin tags. The NZDS explains that the benign growths are more common in people with type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome X, a grouping of risk factors for heart disease that includes insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, blood clotting abnormalities, high blood pressure, and lipid abnormalities.
References
- New Zealand Dermatological Society: Skin Tags
- "Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology"; Human papillomavirus and skin tags: Is there any association?; Gupta S, Aggarwal R, Gupta S, Arora SK; 2008
- Dermatology Online Journal: Friction Induced Skin Tags; Francisco Allegue MD, Carmen Fachal MD, Lidia Pérez-Pérez MD; 2008
- March of Dimes: Skin Changes
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
