快猫短视频

My doctor says that skin tags 鈥� small growths on the skin鈥檚 surface 鈥� commonly form in the armpit. Why do they appear?

鈥� Skin tags, the small projections of skin called , are sometimes thought to be caused by friction because they are most common in areas that receive most friction, such as armpits, the back of the knees, between the breasts and under them (especially where bras rub), and in the skin folds of obese people. However, friction makes skin tags worse but doesn鈥檛 cause them. People with type 2 diabetes also must put up with these annoying, unsightly but benign growths.

Most skin tags are small, but some can grow big enough to warrant removal. Doctors tend to 鈥渇reeze鈥� them off with liquid nitrogen. Cautery and excision are also performed. Regrowth is common unless the root is completely removed, but it is worth noting that the scar can be larger than the original tag.

Skin tags are more common in women than in men and, like liver spots, are a side effect of maturity.

Toshi Knell, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia

鈥� Skin tags and warts are quite different; warts are caused by human papillomavirus and are infectious; skin tags are not infectious and appear to arise spontaneously. Tags are very common but are nothing to worry about. They are harmless in themselves and if they do cause irritation they can be removed by freezing or by tying off to stop the blood supply. It is not advisable to cut them off because larger ones can bleed profusely.

Chris Warman, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, UK