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Skin Tags: Should They Be Removed?


Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr, MD, FACP, FACR

A friend of mine has a history of basal cell carcinoma (a benign type of skin cancer), and recently we were discussing skin protection from the sun. We then began discussing what types of skin surface abnormalities should be checked by a doctor, and which ones are very common and are in general, not a concern.

The discussion boiled down to: how does she (or for that matter you as a viewer), determine whether it is a mole, actinic keratosis, or skin tag? And what types of skin abnormalities should you be concerned about?

Skin tags are one such skin abnormality, and they are also very common. Skin tags - small portions of skin that appear to be attached to or protrude from normal skin - are a common benign condition of the skin. Usually just a few millimeters in diameter, skin tags vary in appearance. Some are the same color as surrounding skin while others are hyperpigmented (darker than surrounding skin). In most cases, they are attached to the underlying skin by a small band of tissue called a stalk or peduncle.

A friend of mine has a history of basal cell carcinoma (a benign type of skin cancer), and recently we were discussing skin protection from the sun. We then began discussing what types of skin surface abnormalities should be checked by a doctor, and which ones are very common and are in general, not a concern.

The discussion boiled down to: how does she (or for that matter you as a viewer), determine whether it is a mole, actinic keratosis, or skin tag? And what types of skin abnormalities should you be concerned about?

Skin tags are one such skin abnormality, and they are also very common. Skin tags - small portions of skin that appear to be attached to or protrude from normal skin - are a common benign condition of the skin. Usually just a few millimeters in diameter, skin tags vary in appearance. Some are the same color as surrounding skin while others are hyperpigmented (darker than surrounding skin). In most cases, they are attached to the underlying skin by a small band of tissue called a stalk or peduncle.

What is a skin tag?

A skin tag is a common, benign condition which consists of a bit of skin that projects from the surrounding skin and may appear attached to the skin. Skin tags can vary quite a bit in appearance. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented, and either simply be raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk (a peduncle) so that the skin tag hangs from the skin.

Where do skin tags occur?

Skin tags can occur almost anywhere there is skin. However, favorite areas for tags are the eyelids, neck, armpits (axillae), upper chest, and groin.

Who tends to get skin tags?

They are much more common with age beginning in middle age and they tend to be somewhat more prevalent in women than men.

Is a skin tag a tumor?

Yes, it is in the sense that it is a growth. However, it is a benign (harmless and not a malignant) condition.

What does a skin tag look like under a microscope?

The outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) shows overgrowth (hyperplasia) and it encloses an underlying layer of skin (the dermis) in which the normally-present collagen fibers appear abnormally loose and swollen.

What problems do skin tags cause?

Usually none. This tiny skin growth generally causes no symptoms unless it is repeatedly irritated as, for example, by the collar or in the crotch.

How are skin tags treated?

In cases in which a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted, treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply, or cutting off (excising) the tag with a scalpel or scissors.

Is there another medical name for a skin tag?

A skin tag is medically also termed a cutaneous papilloma or an acrochordon. However, a skin tag is best known as a skin tag.





Skin Cancer

Summer is a time for swimming, outings, picnics, and fun. But it's also the best time to get a bad sunburn or worse, a bad case of skin cancer.

Adequate sunlight helps your body make vitamin D but too much can kill you. Aside from premature aging, wrinkles and cataracts, long-term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays causes skin cells to grow abnormally and develop into a tumor that can be cancerous.

The most common types of skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell cancers. Melanoma is less common but more serious. This usually occurs in the fourth or fifth decade of life but 80 to 90 percent of sun-related damage that leads to melanoma occurs before the age of 18.

"There are three major types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas and most squamous cell carcinomas are slow growing and highly treatable, especially if found early. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It affects deeper layers of the skin and has the greatest potential to spread to other tissues in the body. Squamous cell carcinoma also can spread internally," according to the Mayo Clinic.

In the United States alone, there are over one million cases of skin cancer reported every year and thousands of deaths annually. This year, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that over 59,000 melanomas will be diagnosed and 8,810 people will die of the disease.

At risk are those who spend too much time under the sun like laborers, farmers, sailors as well as students undergoing military training, scouts, campers, athletes, sunbathers, and swimmers.

Others who need adequate sun protection are the elderly who have thin skin and are more vulnerable to the sun's deadly rays, babies with delicate skin that burns easily, those taking drugs like diuretics, tranquilizers, and antibiotics, and those applying astringents.

"Skin cancer begins in your skin's top layer - the epidermis. The epidermis is as thin as a pencil line, and it provides a protective layer of skin cells that your body continually sheds. Normally, skin cells within the epidermis develop in a controlled and orderly way. In general, healthy new cells push older cells toward the skin's surface, where they die and eventually are sloughed off. This process is controlled by DNA - the genetic material that contains the instructions for every chemical process in your body," the Mayo Clinic said

"Skin cancer occurs when this process malfunctions. When DNA is damaged, changes occur in the instructions, which can cause new cells to grow out of control and form a mass of cancer cells," it added.

Fair-skinned individuals are more likely to develop malignant melanoma but that's no reason for those with dark skin to rejoice. While people with dark skin have more melanin pigment which protects them from burning, experts say melanin-rich complexions are not immune from the sun's harmful rays. The longer you stay under the sun, the greater your risk of getting skin cancer regardless of the color of your skin.

The best way to prevent skin cancer is to stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear sunscreens regularly, wear dark, tightly woven clothes, and use a good pair of sunglasses. To prevent wrinkles caused by the sun, use Dermaxin, a potent anti-aging formula that revitalizes and nourishes your skin. Check out http://www.dermaxin.com

Anxiety Symptoms - Recognizing a Panic Attack

The anxiety symptoms that occur in panic attacks are caused by the body preparing to face danger. The fight and flight response is triggered and the body reacts. In an anxiety attack there is no actual danger but the body is still having the fight flight response. These are common symptoms of panic attacks.

Rapid heartbeat. The heart pumps blood at a faster rate and this makes the heart rate increase. There may be palpitations or a feeling of the heart "thudding' or 'pounding' in the chest. Shortness of breath. As anxiety increases, breathing becomes shallower and faster. This can cause a person to feel that they are suffocating and cannot get enough air in. Sometimes over breathing occurs as the person tries to take big breaths. This can cause tingling in the hand, feet and around the mouth.

Feeling dizzy and faint. The blood rushes to the large muscles when anxiety is high. This causes feeling of faintness and dizziness. There can also be a feeling of being disconnected from what is happening, a sense of unreality. This is called derealization.

Fear of death and insanity. These feelings can be very strong and are very frightening. The person may feel as if they are going to have a heart attack and die or that they are going crazy. The feelings will pass as the anxiety attack passes.

Stomach distress and nausea. The stomach is sent messages to empty when anxiety symptoms are severe. It does this to get ready to cope with danger. This can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping and the need to rush to the bathroom.

Choking sensation. The throat narrows when anxious, as the body gets ready to scream and yell. This can cause a feeling of being choked and difficulty swallowing. This is a common symptom of high anxiety but often not recognized or understood. Coughing and trying to clear the throat only irritates the throat more.

Chest pain. The large muscles in the body tense when anxiety attacks occur. This includes the chest wall muscles. The tightened chest wall muscles, combined with difficulty getting a deep breath in can cause chest pain and a fear of having a heart attack Slowing down the breathing (not deep breaths) is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety symptoms and panic attacks can be treated successfully. There are many techniques that can help to reduce the intensity and frequency of panic attacks. Understanding what is happening in the body and how to control it is very helpful for anxiety treatment.

Treat Anxiety Symptoms at Home!

Louise is a mental health professional and a previous sufferer of anxiety & depression. She writes about self help treatments for anxiety and depression

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Audris
http://EzineArticles.com/?Anxiety-Symptoms---Recognizing-a-Panic-Attack&id=723000

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Martin
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Prevent-Skin-Cancer&id=791759