Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are small, soft, benign growths that protrude from the skin’s surface. These growths are common, and their appearance often increases during pregnancy. While generally harmless, their presence prompts questions about their cause and the safety of removal while pregnant. Understanding the medical guidelines surrounding their treatment is important for expectant mothers.
Why Skin Tags Appear During Pregnancy
The formation of skin tags during pregnancy is primarily a result of hormonal shifts within the body. Elevated levels of hormones, specifically estrogen, progesterone, and leptin, influence their development. Leptin, secreted by fat tissue and the placenta, stimulates the growth of skin cells, leading to new formations.
Physical changes also contribute to these growths. Increased skin laxity creates more areas where skin rubs against itself or clothing. This constant friction and irritation, combined with moisture in skin folds, encourages skin tag development. They commonly appear in areas like the armpits, under the breasts, on the neck, and in the groin.
These growths are composed of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels encased in epidermis. They pose no medical risk to either the mother or the developing fetus and are considered a normal dermatological change associated with pregnancy. They are most often a temporary, hormonally-induced phenomenon.
Safety Guidelines for Removal
The decision to remove a skin tag during pregnancy requires professional consultation. Medical consensus advises against elective removal until after delivery because many pregnancy-induced skin tags resolve spontaneously. The goal during gestation is to minimize unnecessary medical procedures or potential risks.
Removal may be considered only if the skin tag is causing problems, such as being snagged on clothing, causing persistent bleeding, or showing signs of infection. Any decision to proceed must be made jointly with an obstetrician and a dermatologist to ensure the procedure is safe.
Minor procedures carry a small risk of localized inflammation or absorption of local anesthetic. Dermatologists often wait until after the first trimester for necessary procedures to allow for fetal organ development. Safety assessment prioritizes avoiding systemic exposure and unnecessary trauma.
Understanding Professional Removal Methods
When removal is medically necessary and approved, dermatologists utilize several techniques. One common method is excision, or “snipping,” which involves using sterile surgical scissors or a scalpel to remove the tag at its base. This quick procedure often uses a minimal amount of pregnancy-safe local anesthetic to numb the area.
Another technique is cryotherapy, which involves applying liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the tissue. The tag then shrivels and falls off over days or weeks. Electrocautery is a third option, using heat or an electrical current to burn the growth away. Excision and cryotherapy are often preferred during pregnancy due to their minimal invasiveness and low complication rates.
Avoid all forms of self-removal or home remedies during pregnancy. Attempts to cut, tie off with string, or apply caustic chemical products risk excessive bleeding, infection, and permanent scarring. These complications can necessitate medical intervention that is best avoided.
What Happens to Skin Tags After Delivery
Skin tags that appeared during pregnancy often resolve naturally once the baby is born. As the body’s hormone levels return to their pre-pregnancy state, the factors stimulating skin cell growth diminish. This hormonal rebalancing typically causes the skin tags to shrink, darken, or fall off.
The natural resolution usually occurs within the first few months postpartum. If skin tags persist, it is recommended to wait three to six months after delivery before seeking professional removal. This waiting period ensures the hormonal environment has stabilized, confirming which growths are permanent.
A dermatologist can remove any remaining skin tags. Delaying elective removal avoids unnecessary procedures during pregnancy. If a skin tag is removed professionally, it is unlikely to return in that exact spot, though new ones may form elsewhere if the hormonal predisposition continues.