Editing Skin tag (section)

==Etiology==
[[File:SkinTumors-P9250819.jpg|thumb|237px|Acrochordon, pedunculated, fibrous mass covered with epithelium of varied thickness, [[H&E stain]]]]
Skin tags are thought to occur from skin rubbing against skin, since they are often found in skin creases and folds.<ref name="MedlinePlus" /> Studies have shown existence of low-risk [[Human papillomavirus infection|human papillomaviruses]] 6 and 11 in skin tags, hinting at a possible role in their [[pathogenesis]],<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors =Gupta S, Aggarwal R, Gupta S, Arora SK |title=Human papillomavirus and skin tags: Is there any association?|journal=Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol |volume=74|issue=3|pages= 222–5|year= 2008|doi=10.4103/0378-6323.39585|pmid=18583787|doi-access=free|hdl=1807/48117|hdl-access=free}}</ref> although a 2012 study found no association between skin tags and either low- or high-risk HPV.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pezeshkpoor F, Jafarian AH, Ghazvini K, Yazdanpanah MJ, Sadeghian A, Esmaili H, Karrabi M, Rohani F, Joushan B | title = An association of human papillomaviruses low risk and high risk subtypes with skin tag | journal = Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences | volume = 15 | issue = 3 | pages = 840–4 | date = May 2012 | pmid = 23493098 | pmc = 3586892 }}</ref> Acrochorda have been reported to have a [[prevalence]] of 46% in the general population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic606.htm|title=Acrochordon|last=Schwartz|first=Robert A|work=Medscape Reference|access-date=20 August 2012|name-list-style=vanc}}</ref> A [[Causality|causal]] [[Heredity|genetic component]] is thought to exist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.womens-health-beauty.com/skin-problems/acrochordons.htm |title=Acrochordons - Symptoms & Treatment |publisher=Womens-health-beauty.com |access-date=28 November 2011 |archive-date=29 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129115345/http://www.womens-health-beauty.com/skin-problems/acrochordons.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are also more common in women than in men. Acrochorda were once thought to be associated with [[colorectal polyps]], but studies have shown no such connection exists.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brendler |display-authors=etal |date=June 1989|title=Skin tags are not a risk factor for colorectal polyps|journal=Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology|volume=11|issue=3|pages= 299–302|doi=10.1097/00004836-198906000-00011|pmid=2754216|s2cid=39346487 }}</ref> Rarely, they can be associated with [[Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome]], [[acromegaly]], or [[polycystic ovary syndrome]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/diseases/acrochordon.htm |title=Acrochordon (Skin Tag, Fibroepithelial Polyp) |publisher=Thedoctorsdoctor.com |date=1 December 2008 |access-date=28 November 2011}}</ref>

Elevated [[Blood sugar level|blood sugar]] and [[insulin]] is linked to an increased incidence of skin tags through an unknown mechanism.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tamega A, Aranha AM, Guiotoku MM, Miot LD, Miot HA | title = [Association between skin tags and insulin resistance] | journal = Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia | volume = 85 | issue = 1 | pages = 25–31 | date = 1 January 2010 | pmid = 20464083 | doi = 10.1590/S0365-05962010000100003 | doi-access = free | hdl = 11449/11731 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>