Skin tag is a condition during pregnancy period in which soft tumors may appear on various parts of the body. They are not considered harmful by skin specialists but if severe, they will have to be surgically removed.
WHAT ARE SKIN TAGS?
Skin tags are benign tumors hanging on your skin during pregnancy. It is benign as in it is a tumor which is incapable of converting to a cancer. Therefore, in general they are harmless. But if they become too painful to handle and itchy then one can get them removed by surgery. Pregnancy skin tags look like small soft spots of flesh hanging from the skin by a small stalk. They are more prudent to adults who are heavy weight. Women suffering from obesity will have more probability of facing skin tags during their pregnancy period. The medical name for skin tag is “Acrochordon”. Skin tags usually fall off on their own but in some cases they stay for some time and take quite a long time to fall off. They usually appear on that part of body where skin is in contact with some jewelry or watch or in armpits, groins, and genitals.
WHERE DO SKIN TAGS APPEAR?
Pregnancy skin tags basically appear under the breasts in women. They can also appear under armpits, eyelids, buttocks, necks, torso (breasts), groin folds, genitals. Skin tags can appear to people of any age group but pregnant women are more susceptible to it. They can appear anywhere on the body but are mostly found on neck and armpits. During pregnancy, genitals are the most favorite area for skin tags to occur. Genitals skin tags can cause vaginal infection if proper hygiene is not maintained. So, genital skin tags should be cleaned properly so that infection can be avoided. Any fluid secretion from the mentioned area should be cleaned properly.
CAUSES OF PREGNANCY SKIN TAGS
The main reason of skin tags appearing during pregnancy is hormonal advancement. This hormonal advancement cause hyperactive growth of skin. A lot of hormonal changes take place during pregnancy but the body needs time to adjust to all of the changes. Skin tags can be viewed as a direct result of hormonal changes which cause abnormal skin growth.
Overweight middle aged women are more prudent to it. Pregnant women undergo a number of hormonal changes during pregnancy and apart from skin tags there are a number of other side effects that are caused in this period.
Skin tags usually stay of the same size until they are rubbed or played with. Else, they are painless and seldom cause any problem. In the initial stage women don’t even realize they have skin tags growing.
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY SKIN TAGS
The basic point to be kept in mind is that skin tags are not supposed to be treated. People use all kinds of chemical and natural skin creams to get rid of them. The chemical creams are obviously harmful but that doesn't mean the natural creams are an ultimate solution. Sometimes they can react too and cause your skin tags to get worse. So it is advisable that skin tags are left as it.
TREATMENTS FOR SKIN TAGS
Although there is no proper treatment for pregnancy skin tags and they are advised to be left untreated but in severe cases certain medical treatments can be used.
Pregnancy skin tags are common in middle aged pregnant women. It is nothing to be scared off, as they are least dangerous and do not cause any kind of harm or pain. The only required thing is to take proper care of your body and the conceived woman should enjoy the new life as much as it is possible.