Skin tags can occur anywhere on the body, including the face. The most common areas where facial skin tags develop are the upper cheeks and eyelids. Although skin tags in general aren't cancerous or otherwise harmful, facial skin tags can be unsightly. If you're concerned about the appearance of one or more skin tags on your face, see your physician to discuss your treatment options.
Description
The medical term for a skin tag is an acrochordon, although the terms papilloma colli and cutaneous papilloma are also used. Skin tags are benign growths constructed of fat cells, nerve cells and fibrous material that protrude from the surface of the skin on a peduncle, or stalk. Usually skin tags are painless. However, they can become irritated. In the case of facial skin tags, irritation can occur from grooming habits, such as shaving or applying makeup. Facial skin tags on the eyelids can be particularly annoying and even interfere with vision.
Risk Factors
According to Katherine Lim, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, nearly half of the adult population in the U.S. has skin tags at some point, most commonly during middle age. Skin tags occur in men and women with equal frequency. Obesity can increase the risk of skin tags, as can pregnancy and diabetes. A higher incidence of skin tags is also associated with the human papilloma virus and the excessive use of steroids. Rarely, the formation of skin tags can be related to hormonal or endocrine disorders, such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Diagnosis
A physician can identify a skin tag by physical examination. Usually there is little need to conduct further investigation unless medical history warrants it. However, according to Aetna InteliHealth Inc., unusual discoloration, pain or bleeding might prompt your physician to perform a biopsy to rule out melanoma. In addition, Lim suggests that you should consult a dermatologist about facial skin tags or an ophthalmologist about a skin tag on the eyelid.
Treatment Options
Lim says that most skin tags, especially larger ones with a wide base, are usually removed with surgical scissors. Other treatment options include freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen or cauterizing with an electrical device. However, skin tags that have been frozen or cauterized might take some time to fall off and there might be some permanent skin discoloration. In addition, since skin tags sometimes grow back, you might have to repeat the treatment.
Further Considerations
Lim strongly advises against self-treating skin tags with home remedies, because that can lead to infection or the destruction of surrounding tissue, which can produce scarring or discoloration.
