How anal skin tags are formed?
A lot of our clients at Premier Hemorrhoid Treatment Center in Knoxville have questions and concerns about anal skin tags. What are they? And how are they formed?
Anal skin tags are benign (noncancerous) skin growths that form around the anus or rectum. The skin around the anal area is looser because it needs to expand during bowel movement in order for the stool to pass.
When blood vessels around the rectum bulge or swell such as in cases of hemorrhoids, excess skin is produced, which we now know as a skin tag. The anal skin tag can remain even after the swelling subsides.
Who is at risk of getting anal skin tags
Anyone can develop anal skin tags, regardless of age and gender. They’re more common in people who have Crohn’s disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease) and hemorrhoids.
Groups who are at risk for hemorrhoids, such as pregnant women, obese individuals, and those who constantly strain during bowel movement may also develop anal skin tags.
How to know if you have anal skin tags
When you develop an anal skin tag, you may notice a piece of skin around your anus. While they don’t cause any pain in most situations, they can feel uncomfortable.
Anal skin tags may feel or look like warts, but these two are different. Warts are often associated with the human papilloma virus and can be whitish, reddish, or gray-brown in color. Warts can also cause itchiness and may bleed especially when touched. These characteristics are atypical with anal skin tags.
When and how to treat skin tags
If skin tags make you feel very uncomfortable to the point that they affect your quality of life, you may want to see a doctor.
Your doctor may assess the skin tags and inspect the area around it. He/she may look for signs of irritation, fistula (abscess), hemorrhoids, or contact dermatitis. In some cases, the doctor may look inside your anus using his/her finger or a special instrument called a proctoscope. Your doctor may also ask you questions relating to your bowel movements and lifestyle.
As for treatment, the discomfort of skin tags can often treated with over-the-counter creams and other medications. However, over-the-counter treatments may not permanently eradicate a skin tag. The team at Premier Surgical Treatment Center specialize in long-lasting treatment options for both external skin tags and internal hemorrhoids..
Premier Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatment Center in Knoxville, TN is the only dedicated hemorrhoid treatment center in the region. We offer Infrared Coagulation (IRC), a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment option for treating hemorrhoids. This is a quick in-office treatment requiring no anesthesia that is covered by most insurance plans.
Request an appointment online at this link or call our Confidential Hemorrhoid Hotline today at (865) 588-9952!