Skin Tags on Groin and How to Remove Them
Skin tags are known by other names: acrochordons, fibroepithelial polyps and pedunculated papillomas. These non-cancerous growths may appear almost anywhere, but they are most commonly found in the groin or vaginal area, under the armpits and on the neck. Although skin tags are a common skin condition and are generally painless, they may be uncomfortable when located in the groin and can be an embarrassment.
Skin tags that appear on the groin may appear nondescript i.e. like bits of loose skin merely peeling off. These growths are common where friction happens most. They may grow on the penis, scrotum, inner thighs and more often, on the circumcision line due to uneven skin removal at circumcision. A lot of men link skin tags on the groin to sexually transmitted diseases because of their location, but skin tags are not actually caused by sexual activity and are not transmitted through skin-on-skin contact.
When skin tags grow in the groin area, they can be easily irritated or possibly infected, especially in sensitive parts such as the penile shaft and the scrotum. Movement during sex and handling while urinating may further aggravate skin tags, which may even lead to bleeding, as skin tags rely on blood supply from the rest of the body. This is because the skin in and around these body parts are constantly moist and tender.
Although skin tags can appear on anyone at anytime, there are some factors that may trigger their growth. The use of steroids, such as the kind that bodybuilders and athletes may take in, causes collagen fibers in the skin to grow in the manner that skin tags are formed. For diabetics, insulin rejection may also be a factor in skin tag growth. Old age is another contributor, as studies have shown skin tags proliferate more in the elderly. In addition, obesity causes skin to fold and rub providing for an ideal environment for skin tag reproduction.
Skin tags in the groin area are removed primarily for cosmetic reasons, not necessarily because of health risks. There is no cure to completely eradicate all skin tags at one time but they can be treated individually. Small skin tags on the groin can be removed through excision, or by cutting them off after anesthesia has been applied. Larger skin tags may need to undergo surgery sessions in order for them to be removed.
Electrocautery is another method. In this process, the skin tag is killed off with a small amount of electricity applied to it. Cryotherapy, a treatment using liquid nitrogen to freeze off skin tags then allow them to fall off is a preferred method by many people afflicted with skin tags. Laser skin tag treatment uses a laser point to stop blood supply to the skin tag, which effectively makes it wither off. For those who refuse invasive procedures, there are natural products and methods which can be used to get rid of skin tags on the groin.
A word of caution for any attempt at removing skin tags on the groin: this is a sensitive part of the body and care must be taken during treatment to avoid any untoward incidents.