Skin Tag Orgins and Removal Treatments

What are skin tags?

Skin tags are small, benign growths that are composed of a core of fibers and ducts, nerve cells, fat cells, and a covering or epidermis. Additional names for skin tags include acrochordon, cutaneous papilloma, cutaneous tag, fibroepithelial polyp, fibroma molluscum, fibroma pendulum, papilloma colli, soft fibroma, and Templeton skin tag. They are often seen raised from the skin on a stalk called a peduncle.

Who gets skin tags?
Both men and women tend to get skin tags as they age. Skin tags are also more common in pregnant women, obese people, and people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. About 46% of people develop skin tags at some point in their lives.

Where do skin tags appear?
Skin tags often form in areas where the skin creases, such as the neckline, the groin, the underside of the arms, the area beneath the breasts, and the eyelids. The most common location is the armpit. It is common for skin tags to appear in groups. They often become stuck on jewelry, are shaved in error, and are agitated by clothing. Women who shave their armpits should be careful not to shave or cut skin tags that are located there.

Are skin tags harmful?
Although skin tags are technically tumors, they are benign and normally harmless. They can, however, become damaged and become inflamed and sore. If shaved off or rubbed hard, they may bleed.

What causes skin tags?
Although we do not know the exact cause of skin tags, the following are thought to be associated with their appearance:

* Chaffing and irritation from the skin rubbing together
* Hormones secreted during pregnancy or in cases of acromegaly (gigantism)
* Insulin resistance caused by diabetes
* Human papilloma virus
* Illegal steroid use that interferes with the body and muscles, causing the collagen fibers in the skin to bond so that skin tags are formed

How are skin tags removed?
Since skin tags are generally harmless, they are usually removed for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons. Physicians usually remove skin tags using one of the following methods:

* Cauterizatio - the skin tag is burned off using electrolysis
* Cryosurgery - the skin tag is frozen off using liquid nitrogen
* Ligation - the blood supply to the skin tag is interrupted
* Excision - the skin tag is removed with a scalpel

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatments

Most squamous cell carcinomas may be treated by one of the following methods. More healthy tissue around the lesion is removed
than for basal cell carcinomas because of the potential of squamous cell carcinomas to spread. Nearby lymph nodes are also examined
carefully. The choice of treatment is influenced by:

* size, location, grade, and type of tumour
* whether the tumour is primary or is recurring
* person’s age and health
* people with organ transplants are at a high risk of aggressive squamous cell carcinoma, which is considered in their treatment plan
* availability of the treatment

Surgery (Wide Excision)

# used for:
- most small lesions that are less than 2 cm
- superficial or SCC that has not spread
- verrucous carcinomas (slow growing and less aggressive)
- tumours that have previously been treated with radiation therapy
- lesions on the eyelid, forehead, scalp, lip, penis, vulva and anus

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

* used for all types of squamous cell cancer
* commonly used for:
- areas that are at high risk of recurrence (eyelids, nose, ears, forehead, scalp), as well as areas that have - already recurred
- areas where it is important to keep function and appearance
- lesions that are larger than 2 cm, and lesions with poorly defined borders
- aggressive tumours, and invasive lesions that have spread to nerves, cartilage or bone
- tumours that have been left untreated for a long time
- lesions that had not been completely removed with prior surgery it involves a meticulous study of tissues removed by a  pathologist at the time of surgery

Radiation Therapy

* used after surgery for:
- elderly individuals
- ensuring cancer free margins
- treatment of involved lymph nodes
- squamous cell carcinoma that has recurred after surgery
- to relieve or control the symptoms of very large tumours
- for people who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgery
- tumours on the eyelid, cheek, earlobe and nose not used for verrucous carcinomas (slow growing and less aggressive)

Chemotherapy

* systemic chemotherapy is used for squamous cell cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
* drugs used most often in chemotherapy:
- cisplatin
- doxorubicin
- bleomycin

Curettage And Electrodesiccation (C & E)

used for
- small areas that are less than 2 cm
- lesions that haven’t spread
- squamous cell carcinoma with distinct margins in Actinic Keratosis should not be used for:

- larger lesions that are greater than 2 cm
- recurrent tumours
- aggressive squamous cell carcinoma
- lesions with poorly defined borders
- hairy areas like the underarms, scalp, and the pubic area
- areas where it is important to keep function and appearance uncommonly used

Skin Tags and Seborrheic Keratoses

Nuisances You don’t have to put up with. As time goes on, we all acquire tiny bits of extra skin called skin tags. These can range in size from 1-10 mm, and are flesh colored or brown.

Skin tags can be found on any part of the body, but are most common on the eyelids and neck, and in the armpits and groin, and under the breasts.  While skin tags are benign they can be annoying if they become irritating or rub on sporting equipment, and skin tags can interfere with shaving and can detract from one’s appearance and self-image.

Fortunately, we don’t have to put up with skin tags. These little annoyances can be easily removed in an office visit with little or no discomfort. Skin tags can almost always be removed without needing stitches, and the treated areas usually have healed completely in a week or two.

The cost of removing skin tags is quite reasonable - ranging from about $80 for a few tiny ones to about $200 for a larger number scattered over several areas.

Seborrheic keratoses are firm flat or raised, sometimes scaly or crusty flesh-colored, brown or black “barnacles” which accumulate (usually on the face and trunk) as time goes on. Some people start to develop seborrheic keratoses in their thirties, and most people have at least a few by the time they are sixty. To look at pictures of different types of moles, click on www.SkinCancerGuide.ca .

Seborrheic keratoses are usually just a nuisance, but - like skin tags — they can rub on clothing and equipment, and their appearance can sometimes be so distressing that they interfere with choice of clothing, sports like swimming, and intimacy.  Because seborrheic keratoses grow above the skin (but not down into the skin) they can be easily scraped off, and the treated areas heal up nicely within a few weeks. Sometimes the healed area remains pink for a few months after the seborrheic keratosis is removed.

The cost of removing seborrheic keratoses is similar to that for removal of skin tags: about $80 for one or two, with the cost gradually increasing depending on the number and size of seborrheic keratoses to be removed.

The cost of removing skin tags and seborrheic keratoses is a tax-deductible medical expense, just like things like dental bills.  So, if you are annoyed by skin tags or seborrheic keratoses you can be confident that it is simple and inexpensive to rid yourself of these nuisances.

By Kevin C. Smith MD FACP FRCPC

Best Acne Skin Care Treatments

If like many others you are desperate to get your acne treated in order to regain the skin you once had then using an acne skin care treatment is essential to the process. By reading through the tips provided below you should soon be back on the road to have that beautiful skin you had before you suffered from acne.

However it is important that first of all you know what acne is and then you will be able to treat it much better. A person suffers from acne because their sebaceous glands begin to produce too much oil and when combined with dead skin cells a person’s pores will then become blocked. As the pores are blocked they are unable to breathe correctly and then bacteria sets in and so blackheads and whiteheads will begin to erupt on the person’s skin.

In order to clean your face effectively whilst treating acne of any form you should not scrub it but rather gently wash it using a mild anti-bacterial soap or lotion.

Next you need to look at what you are eating and drinking. Many people do not realize this but what they eat and drink seriously affects their acne further. Therefore you should drink lots of fresh water each day. Not only will it help to remove all those unwanted toxins (which make a person’s acne worse) from the body but it is probably the most inexpensive form of acne skin care treatment.

You should also eat vegetables which contain high amounts of Vitamin A and will normally be bright orange or yellow or green in color. By eating plenty of these vegetables such as carrots, sweet corn and broccoli, cabbage etc, it will help you achieve a much better complexion on your skin.

Besides keeping the above points in mind, you should also consult your doctor. They will be able to prescribe acne skin care treatment medications that you will not be able to find or purchase elsewhere. But as well as using the medication provided by your doctor you should look more closely at your dietary habits and make the necessary changes and do not forget to drink plenty of fresh water also.

By taking these steps in your acne skin care treatment program you should be on the road to seeing the results of your work in the mirror in a very short period of time.

Alternative Acne Treatments and Prevention

Several surgical or medical treatments may be used to reduce acne or the scars caused by the disease.
•    Chemical peel. A chemical known as glycolic acid is first applied to the skin. When it dries, it is peeled off, taking the top layer of skin with it. This treatment helps reduce scarring.

•    Collagen injection. Shallow scars are filled in by injecting collagen, a skin protein, beneath the scars.
•    Comedo extraction. A special tool is used to remove a comedo from a pore.
•    Dermabrasion. The affected skin is first frozen with a chemical spray. Then it is removed with a brush or sandpaper-like instrument.

•    Intralesional injection. Anti-inflammatory drugs are injected directly into inflamed pimples.
•    Punch grafting. Deep scars are removed and the area repaired with small skin grafts.

Alternative treatments for acne focus on proper hygiene and diet. Patients are advised to keep their skin clean and oil-free. They are also encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet high in fiber, zinc, and raw fruits and vegetables. They should also avoid alcohol, dairy products, caffeine, sugar, smoking, processed foods, and foods high in iodine, such as table salt.

Some doctors recommend the use of herbs to supplement the diet. Some herbs that have been used in the treatment of acne include burdock root, red clover, and milk thistle. Additional nutrients that may help to control acne include B-complex vitamins and chromium. Chinese herbal treatments that are recommended include cnidium seed and honeysuckle flower. Another herbal treatment is tea tree oil. The proper dose of these substances can be recommended by physicians or nutritionists.

Acne cannot be cured. However, it can be controlled in about 60 percent of patients with the drug isotretinoin. Improvement usually takes at least two months, and the problem may recur after treatment has been stopped. Inflammatory acne that results in the formation of scars may require one of the more aggressive treatments already described.

PREVENTION

There are no sure ways to prevent acne. However, the following steps tend to reduce flare-ups ofthe condition:
•    Gently wash—do not scrub—the affected areas once or twice every day.
•    Avoid rough cleansers.
•    Use makeup and skin moisturizers that do not produce comedos.
•    Shampoo often and wear hair away from the face.
•    Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid foods that trigger flare-ups.
•    Give dry pimples a limited amount of sun exposure unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
•    Do not pick or squeeze pimples.
•    Reduce stress.

Acne Treatments

There are two main methods of acne treatment that you can follow: topical treatment and oral treatment.

Before selecting a treatment, you must have a solid understanding about acne, and determine the exact type of acne that you have. In addition to this, it is also important to set goals for your acne treatment. Here are some points to keep in mind when thinking about acne, and when selecting the best acne medication for yourself.
Goals of acne treatment:

* You should understand how much acne and what type of acne you have.
* To stop new acne blemishes from developing with appropriate treatment.
* To treat acne scars and prevent new scars from forming.

Points you should remember:

* You can control and cover the visible lesions and avoid embarrassment.
* Treatment is available that can prevent acne scarring.
* You should get help for your acne as soon as you notice it. Early treatment minimizes the severity of acne. This is important especially if one of your parents had severe acne.
* Treatment may last for months and often years.
* You should understand that improvement can be slow, and will often take months (not weeks) to work. There may even be an initial flare of your acne.

Points To Remember For Selecting Your Best Acne Treatment:

* The severity level of your acne
* Your personal goals for therapy
* The effectiveness of the treatment and possible side effects
* Your personal preference.

Other Circumstances Specific To Girls And Women:

* Pregnancy: is it possible you could become pregnant during treatment, or are you already pregnant?
* Breastfeeding: Will you be breastfeeding during treatment?
* Are you in the childbearing age range?
* The acne treatment that you select will depend on the factors listed below:

* The severity of your condition
* The type of acne (comedonal vs. inflamed) lesions you have
* Any previous experience you have had (and your skin’s response) to other treatments
* The degree of oiliness or sensitivity of your skin
* Any history you may have of sensitive skin or extreme irritation to specific products.

Note: Acne may flare in the initial stages of treatment. However, this is not necessarily an indication of unsuitable treatment. On average, you’re likely to see about a 20% improvement per month.