Skin tags are common, benign skin growths, often appearing as small, soft flaps. While typically the same color as surrounding skin, observing a skin tag suddenly turning purple can be a cause for concern. This color change often indicates an underlying process affecting the growth’s blood supply.
Common Reasons for Color Change
A frequent reason a skin tag turns purple is torsion, the twisting of its narrow stalk. This constricts small blood vessels, reducing blood flow (ischemia). As blood flow diminishes, trapped blood can make it appear dark red or purple, sometimes progressing to black if tissue necroses.
Physical irritation or trauma can also change a skin tag’s color. Friction from clothing, jewelry, or scratching can inflame it. This irritation may lead to bruising or localized bleeding, causing purple discoloration. These forces can disrupt delicate capillaries.
Another less common reason for a purple skin tag is a small blood clot (thrombosis) within its structure. This clot blocks blood flow through tiny vessels. Clotted blood can make the skin tag appear dark purple or almost black as it becomes stagnant and deoxygenated.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While a purple skin tag often points to benign causes, certain signs warrant prompt medical evaluation. Sudden, severe pain or tenderness, especially if disproportionate to its size, warrants a healthcare professional’s visit. This kind of pain can indicate significant tissue damage or infection.
Signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or pus around the skin tag, necessitate medical attention. If the skin tag rapidly grows, changes shape or texture significantly, or bleeds persistently, a doctor should assess it. Seek professional advice if multiple skin tags turn purple simultaneously, or if there’s uncertainty about the growth’s initial diagnosis.
Professional Diagnosis and Treatment Options
If a skin tag turns purple and causes concern, a healthcare professional typically begins with a visual examination. This helps distinguish it from other lesions with similar color changes. In rare instances, if the growth’s nature is uncertain, a biopsy may be performed to analyze tissue and rule out other conditions.
If removal is necessary or desired, several common methods are available. Cryotherapy involves freezing the skin tag off using liquid nitrogen, which destroys the tissue. Surgical excision, cutting the skin tag away with a scalpel, is another straightforward option.
For larger skin tags, ligation involves tying off the base with a surgical thread to cut off blood supply, causing it to wither and fall off. Electrocautery uses heat from an electrical current to burn off the skin tag. The choice of method depends on the skin tag’s size, location, and patient preference.
Self-Care and Prevention
It is important to avoid attempting to remove skin tags at home, regardless of their color. Methods like tying them off with string, cutting them with scissors, or using other unsterilized tools can lead to risks, including:
Severe infection
Excessive bleeding
Incomplete removal
Potentially disfiguring scarring
Maintaining general skin hygiene can help manage skin tags. Keeping the area around skin tags clean and dry can reduce irritation. Wearing loose-fitting clothing and avoiding jewelry that might rub against prone areas can help prevent friction and trauma that could lead to color changes.