Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are small, benign growths of skin tissue that are common, especially as people age. Their development during gestation is a frequent, though often surprising, experience for many individuals. These soft, often stalk-like protrusions are generally harmless, but their sudden appearance can cause concern regarding their permanence. This article addresses the link between pregnancy and these growths, focusing on the likelihood of their natural resolution after childbirth.
Why Skin Tags Form During Pregnancy
The surge in skin tags during pregnancy is primarily a result of significant physiological changes within the body. Elevated levels of certain hormones are the main drivers behind this increase in skin cell growth. Specifically, an increase in the hormone leptin, which is secreted by both the mother and the developing fetus, strongly correlates with the formation of new skin tags.
Leptin is known to stimulate the growth and differentiation of epithelial skin cells, leading to these small growths. Furthermore, the rise in sex hormones, particularly estrogen, may also play a role in promoting skin laxity and tissue proliferation. These hormonal shifts are most pronounced during the second and third trimesters, which is when most people notice the growths appearing.
Mechanical factors also contribute to the location and development of these growths. Weight gain during pregnancy, combined with fluid retention, can create new or larger skin folds. Increased friction in areas where skin rubs against skin, such as the underarms, neck, beneath the breasts, or in the groin area, encourages the formation of skin tags.
Postpartum Persistence and Resolution
The most frequent question regarding pregnancy-related skin tags is whether they will naturally disappear once the baby is born. The reality is that unlike some other skin changes experienced during this time, such as the darkening of the linea nigra, skin tags do not reliably or universally fall off. Persistence is a common outcome.
The theory behind potential resolution is that as hormone levels, particularly leptin and estrogen, begin to return to pre-pregnancy levels, the hyper-proliferative signal to the skin cells diminishes. If a skin tag is going to shrink or regress, this process typically begins within the first few months postpartum, a period of rapid hormonal rebalancing. However, the growths are composed of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels, which often remain once formed.
Some small skin tags may shrivel and detach naturally, but it is more common for the majority of the growths to remain, perhaps slightly diminished in size. If a skin tag remains, it is considered a permanent, benign fixture unless professionally removed.
Professional Removal Methods
Since spontaneous resolution is not guaranteed, many individuals choose to have persistent skin tags removed for cosmetic reasons or because the tags catch on clothing or jewelry, causing irritation. Professional removal is a simple, in-office procedure performed by a dermatologist or other medical professional. Waiting until after the postpartum period is generally advised, as any tags that might resolve naturally will have done so by then.
One common technique is cryotherapy, which involves applying liquid nitrogen to the growth, freezing the tissue. The cold causes the skin tag to blister and eventually fall off within a week or two. Alternatively, electrocautery uses a fine needle to transmit an electrical current that burns the skin tag at its base, destroying the tissue.
For larger or stalk-like growths, surgical excision, often called a snip removal, is frequently used. The area is first numbed with a local anesthetic, and the practitioner uses sterile scissors or a scalpel to precisely cut the tag at its base. It is advised to seek professional help for removal rather than attempting at-home methods like tying off or cutting, which carry a risk of infection, bleeding, and scarring.