Are the more skin tags that grow, the more they "jump"?

Although painless and benign, the longer skin tags are left untreated, the more they increase in number and size, causing aesthetic problems and affecting the patient's self-confidence in social interactions.

The image shows skin tags all over the face, most concentrated around the eyes, of a patient being treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital - Photo: Provided by the hospital.

Dr. Le Huu Bach, Head of the Medical Equipment and Supplies Department at the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, said that skin tags, also known as syringomas, are of two types: eccrine glands that secrete directly onto the skin and apocerin glands that secrete into the hair follicle.

This is a benign proliferative disorder caused by overactive sweat glands. It can occur at any age, in any race, and in both men and women. However, statistics show that women are more likely to be affected than men, usually after puberty.

Every year, the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital receives thousands of patients for examination and treatment of skin tags. In 2022 alone, over 4,000 cases of sweat gland tumors around the eyes were treated, and in the first four months of 2023, nearly 1,700 cases were treated.

Are skin tags growing more and more because they "jump"?

Dr. Bach added that although skin tags are not painful or itchy, are not a cause for concern, and are generally harmless, they appear in clusters on the face, around the eyes, neck, chest, armpits, abdomen, and even the genitals…

Furthermore, they often grow in areas with many folds on the body, areas of skin prone to sagging and sweating, but most commonly on exposed skin, especially the face and around the eyes. Therefore, they cause serious cosmetic problems, impacting the patient's psychology and making them less confident in social interactions.

From a very small skin tag at the corner of the eye, it grew larger over time - Photo: X.MAI

Further explaining why skin tags grow more frequently over time and whether they "jump," Dr. Bach explained: skin tags originate from the appendages of the skin; initially, they appear as small nodules, then develop very slowly over a long period.

This is a type of skin lesion that usually does not cause noticeable symptoms.

Due to a lack of early consultation and treatment, and a lack of knowledge about prevention, over time the blockage of pores increases, leading to an increase in the number and size of skin tags. These are not skin tags that "jump" and spread as many people believe.

When is intervention necessary?

Dr. Bach advises that although skin tags don't significantly affect health, they are unsightly and can cause a lack of confidence in social interactions. Therefore, if you notice any abnormalities on your skin, you should visit a dermatology clinic for examination.

Doctors will examine and advise you on the best and earliest course of treatment to help keep your skin smooth and radiant.

At a specialized hospital, patients will be thoroughly examined by doctors to determine if it is a sweat gland tumor, to avoid confusion with other conditions such as acne, milia, flat warts, sebaceous hyperplasia, etc. From there, the most appropriate treatment plan will be determined.

There are many methods for treating and removing skin tags at hospitals, but it's crucial to ensure the patient's aesthetic outcome. If patients receive early and proper treatment, scarring is usually minimal, and recurrence is significantly reduced.

Extremely hot weather creates favorable conditions for skin tags to develop.

There are many causes of skin tags. Depending on the cause, there will be appropriate prevention methods:

- Genetic factors: The development of skin tags is influenced by genetic factors. When family members have the condition, the likelihood of other family members also developing these lesions is higher.

- Due to metabolic disorders of the sweat ducts under the skin: When duct cells overgrow or sweat glands react uncontrollably, it leads to the formation of abnormal tissues and tumors that hinder the sweating process in the skin.

- Due to medical history: Several medical histories may be associated with the development of skin tumors, including diabetes, Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a genetic disorder affecting the connective tissues that support the skin, bones, blood vessels, and other tissues and organs), and Marfan syndrome (a genetic disorder affecting the body's connective tissue).

- Due to environmental factors: This is a major factor influencing the formation of skin tags. If you are frequently exposed to sunlight, your skin structure will suffer damage from the sun.

Extremely hot weather causes our bodies to sweat excessively, which can clog pores and create favorable conditions for skin tags to develop.

Dr. Le Huu Bach, Specialist Level I

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/lam-dep/mun-thit-moc-cang-nhieu-la-do-biet-nhay/248672.htm