120 March 2014 www.bahrainthismonth.com MARAFIE SKIN & LASER CLINIC Skin Check-up Skin tags are harmless growths that can vary in number from one to hundreds. Both men and women are equally prone to developing them. Obese individuals are known to be at a much higher risk. Skin tags are bits of flesh-coloured or darkly pigmented tissue that project from the surrounding skin from a small, narrow stalk. They typically occur in characteristic locations, including the base of the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin folds and under the breasts. “Although some may fall off spontaneously, most persist once formed. The medical name is acrochordon and they are benign,” explains Dr Hanann Marafie of Marafie Skin & Laser Clinic. “Early on, they may be as small as a flattened pinhead-sized bump. Hormone elevations, such as those seen during pregnancy, may cause an increase in the formation of skin tags.” Although the condition is generally not associated with any other diseases, there seems to be a group of obese individuals who, along with many skin tags, develop acanthosis nigricans. This is a brown to black, velvety hyper-pigmentation of the skin usually found in body folds. “There are several effective medical ways to remove them. Larger growths may require some local anaesthesia prior to removal. Application of a topical anaesthesia cream prior to the procedure may be desirable in areas where there are a large number of tags,” she notes. After the procedure is done, the area will heal within 10 days to two weeks. The skin might be darker for a while after healing. However, it is something that can be taken care of by using lightening creams. E Call 17 585-373. Although harmless, growths that look like small soft, balloons of hanging skin are a common phenomenon. We take a closer look at this skin condition. reportcosmetictreatments
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