So, you have reached Menopause age and are experiencing some heavy symptoms such as hot flushes, emotional changes and aches and pains. Well, you may have noticed that pesky skin tags have started to make an appearance too! If that’s the case this blog may be helpful to you to allow you to understand the link between Menopause and Skin Tags and how easily they can be treated. Do not fear, as at Emma Coleman Skin Clinic we are well equipped to remove these for you allowing you to focus on supporting your other Menopause symptoms.

What is a Skin Tag and what causes them?

Skin tags, also called Acrochordon, are small skin growths that are usually found in areas where folds of skin rub against each other, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Their causes include weight gain, which leads to irritation in skin folds in both adults and children. They also may be linked to advancing age and underlying health conditions, including diabetes.

Skin tags are usually the same colour as the rest of your skin, or a little darker. They can look like they're hanging off the skin. They do not usually hurt and are normally harmless.

Skin tags range in size from around 2mm to 5cm. You may get one or you may get a large group of them.

Causes include:

Why are they more common in the menopausal years?

Hormones are believed to play a role in skin tags during menopause, just as they do during pregnancy. As your body changes, the likelihood of developing these small growths also rises.

Both men and women experience hormonal changes, but men go through them in their early teen years. Women, however, have many changes throughout their lifetime. This doesn’t just happen during the teen years but also if they become pregnant and during menopause.

There is no proven medical reason, nor is there any reason to be concerned. They grow mainly due to friction on the skin.

Oestrogen plays a significant role in maintaining the structure and resilience of our skin. As its levels fluctuate and eventually decline, our skin loses elasticity and is more prone to various changes, including the formation of skin tags.

Can they be treated?

The good news is yes! Skin Tags are easily treated, in our clinic we would use Cauterisation (heat) and minor surgery to remove Skin Tags in the face and body. There is minimal risk of scarring, and most Skin Tags drop off during treatment so you can wave goodbye to your little skin terrors! All you need to do is book a Lesion Consultation with us which can be booked with either Emma or one of our experienced Aesthetic Practitioners, this can be booked online, via telephone or email. Please find the link below. We look forward to hearing from you!

How can I prevent Skin Tags from Occurring?

So, we all know prevention is better than cure, so what can we do to prevent Skin Tags from occurring in the first place? There are a few things we can do and add into our daily routine to try to keep these at bay. A really simple way we can prevent Skin Tags from forming is we can use a Salicylic Acid body wash and a loofah three times a week to exfoliate the skin.

While the exact cause of skin tags is unknown, they do tend to develop in areas where skin rubs against itself. To minimize this rubbing, wear clean and breathable cotton clothing that cushions areas that rub, such as in the groin and in the armpits. Creating a barrier between layers of skin will minimize the amount of rubbing the skin experiences.

However, there are some areas, such as the outside of the eyelids, where you just cannot minimize the friction on your skin.

People who are carrying excess weight are more likely to get skin tags. This may be because they have more skin folds that create more areas of friction on the skin. If you are worried about getting skin tags, you can try to reduce your weight so that skin tags in skin folds don't occur.

If you have diabetes, you have a higher chance of getting skin tags due to the increased insulin in your blood. To minimize this risk, do your best to avoid developing that condition. Good ways to prevent diabetes include eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, among other things.

So, there you have it! I hope this blog has reassured and has equipped you with more knowledge around Skin Tags ands Menopause, if you ever have any further questions please do contact the clinic for more information by clicking here