Editing Skin tag

{{short description|Small benign skin tumor}}
{{for|similar structures in mucous membranes such as the colon|Polyp (medicine)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Skin tag
| synonyms        = Acrochordon, acrochorda, skin polyp, fibroepithelial polyp,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RHzYQvluymwC&pg=PA209 |title=Genital Dermatology Atlas| first1 = Libby | last1 = Edwards | first2 = Peter J. | last2 = Lynch | name-list-style = vanc |page=209 |publisher=[[Lippincott Williams & Wilkins]] |isbn=       978-1-60831-079-1|year=2010}}</ref> fibrovascular papilloma, soft fibroma, fibroma molle
| image           = NeckAcrochordons.jpg
| caption         = Several acrochorda in the skin of the lower neck, soft consistency, the bottom acrochordon taking a pedunculated shape
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| field           = [[Dermatology]]
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A '''skin tag''', or '''acrochordon''' ({{plural form}}: '''acrochorda'''), is a small [[benign tumor]] that forms primarily in areas where the [[Human skin|skin]] forms creases (or rubs together), such as the neck, [[armpit]] and [[groin]]. They may also occur on the face, usually on the eyelids. Though tags up to {{convert|1/2|in|mm|order=flip|abbr=in}} long have been seen,<ref name="MedlinePlus">{{cite web | url = https://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/000848.htm | title = Cutaneous skin tag | work = Medline Plus | access-date = 20 August 2012 }}</ref> they are typically the size of a grain of rice. The surface of an acrochordon may be smooth or irregular in appearance and is often raised from the surface of the skin on a fleshy stalk called a [[peduncle (anatomy)|peduncle]]. Microscopically, an acrochordon consists of a [[Circulatory system|fibrovascular]] core, sometimes also with [[fat cell]]s, covered by an unremarkable [[Epidermis (skin)|epidermis]]. However, tags may become irritated by shaving, clothing, jewelry or [[eczema]].

==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>

==Treatment==
Removal, if desired or warranted, can be done by a [[dermatology|dermatologist]], a [[general practitioner]], or a similarly trained professional who may use [[cauterization]], [[cryosurgery]], [[Surgery|excision]], laser, or [[Ligature (medicine)|surgical ligation]] to remove the acrochorda.<ref name="MedlinePlus"/><ref name = "Harvard">{{cite web|url=https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/skin-tag-removal-optional-but-effective-2020032319079 |title=Skin tag removal: Optional but effective |work=Harvard Medical School |date=March 23, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2021}}</ref> Varied home remedies are unsupported by medical evidence.<ref name = "Harvard"/>

== See also ==
* [[Molluscum contagiosum]] (a viral disease which is similar in appearance and grows in similar areas)
* [[List of cutaneous neoplasms associated with systemic syndromes]]
*[[Papilloma]]
*[[Cutaneous horn]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Medical resources
|  DiseasesDB     = 33273 
|  ICD10          = {{ICD10|L|91|8|l|80}}<br>(congenital {{ICD10|Q|82|8|q|80}}) 
|  ICD9           = {{ICD9|701.9}} 
|  ICDO           = 
|  OMIM           = 109400 
|  MedlinePlus    = 000848 
|  eMedicineTopic = 606 
|  MeshID         =
}}
{{Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology}}
{{Soft tissue tumors and sarcomas}}

[[Category:Dermal and subcutaneous growths]]
[[Category:Benign neoplasms]]