An Integrative Medicine Approach to Skin Tags

When skin rubs against itself over a long period of time, little growths of skin can form. These skin tags or acrochordons are not cancerous and usually do not require treatment. 

These skin findings are very common, with around half of all adults developing at least one skin tag in their lifetime. They are more common with advancing age and in those with a family history of these growths. Men and women are equally likely to develop skin tags.

An integrative approach to skin tags investigates underlying and related factors and develops an individualized plan incorporating nutrition, herbal remedies, and integrative therapies to keep the skin healthy. 

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What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are small benign growths of heaped-up skin tissue that extend out from a tiny stalk or stem. They are usually not very large, between 1-5 millimeters, although some can grow up to a few centimeters. 

Skin tags do not usually cause pain or discomfort unless they are frequently rubbing against clothing or jewelry. They do not cause any accompanying symptoms and typically don't require treatment. If they are bothersome, rubbing frequently, or in a visible area that causes distress, they can be removed by a healthcare professional. 

Over half of adults will have at least one skin tag during their life, with the frequency of these growths increasing with age. Although they are more likely to develop after the fourth decade of life, there is an increasing prevalence of skin tags in children and teens, likely due to their association with obesity, which is also increasing in younger people. Once a skin tag has formed, it often increases in size or number as you get older.

What Are The Possible Causes of Skin Tags?

When the skin chronically rubs against itself, clothing, or jewelry, the body may produce extra cells in the skin’s top layers. This is why skin tags most frequently form in areas where everyday movement causes the skin to rub against itself, such as skin folds. Therefore, these growths are most common in the armpits, eyelids, groin, thighs, neck, under the breast, and around the genitals. 

Skin tags are also more common in people with more areas of loose skin and/or skin folds, such as those who are overweight, pregnant, or have loose skin, as the skin loses elasticity with aging. In addition to losing skin during pregnancy, skin tags are more likely to develop during times when there are higher levels of growth factors (alpha tissue growth factor and epidermal growth factor) in the body, such as during pregnancy or in conditions like acromegaly. Other hormonal imbalances, such as elevated levels of the female sex hormones, progesterone, and estrogen, are also associated with a greater risk of skin tag development.

There is also an increased risk of skin tags in people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, unhealthy blood sugar levels, extra fat around your waist, or unhealthy cholesterol levels) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). While causation has not been firmly established, there is a correlation between certain viral infections like human papillomavirus (HPV) and skin tags.

In addition to advancing age and metabolic conditions, people with a family history of skin tags are more likely to also develop these growths. Skin tags are also a feature of certain genetic conditions like Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, an inherited condition that causes multiple, benign skin lesions like lung cysts, increased risk of repeated collapsed lungs (pneumothorax), malignant and benign tumors in the kidney, and tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disease where people develop non-cancerous tumors in the brain, spinal cord, nerves, eyes, lung, heart, kidneys, and skin.

Functional Medicine Labs to Test for Root Cause of Skin Tags

Skin tags can often reflect underlying metabolic imbalances. Functional medicine testing can help uncover imbalances in hormones, metabolism, and blood sugar balance that can then be addressed to bring the body back into balance.

Blood Sugar Balance

Skin tags can be a sign of underlying issues with blood sugar balance, such as type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, so it is important to evaluate markers of metabolic health and blood sugar balance with functional medicine testing when many skin tags arise. 

One test that reflects blood sugar balance is a fasting glucose test that measures the level of glucose in the blood when you have not eaten for several hours, commonly after an overnight fast. 

Measuring hemoglobin A1c provides a measure of what your average glucose level was over the past two to three months.

To look at the balance of insulin in the body, functional medicine tests can measure fasting insulin and C-peptide, a marker that the body is producing insulin. These can give clues as to if there is too much insulin in the blood due to issues like insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Lipids

In addition to markers of blood sugar balance and insulin function, lipid levels can be measured to assess metabolic balance in the body. A lipid panel measures a variety of lipids in the blood, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, VLDL, HDL/TG ratio, TC/HDL ratio, VLDL/TG ratio, and non-HDL.

Metabolic Function & Toxicity

To further evaluate these metabolic markers of glucose balance and insulin function and your likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome, the Metabolomic Profile provides a comprehensive look at several metabolic markers. ‍

In addition, the NutrEval FMV can be ordered to provide additional insights into cellular health, toxicity, and metabolism.

Sex Hormones

Another condition that involves metabolic imbalances and skin tags is PCOS. In this condition, the ovaries produce more androgens (male hormones) than they should with metabolic imbalances such as insulin resistance and hormonal symptoms such as irregular or missed periods, failure to ovulate, infertility, male-pattern hair loss, excess facial and body hair, acne, and abnormal uterine bleeding. 

To assess for PCOS and other hormonal imbalances that may be associated with skin tags, the DUTCH Cycle Mapping Plus offers a comprehensive hormonal evaluation. 

Additional Labs To Test 

Skin tags can usually be diagnosed clinically with a physical exam. If the diagnosis is uncertain, a skin biopsy can be done to distinguish a skin tag from a wart, skin cancer, mole, or other skin condition like seborrheic keratosis, which causes wart-like growths. This involves taking a small skin sample and looking at it under the microscope to establish distinguishing features. 

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Conventional Treatment for Skin Tags

Usually, skin tags do not require any treatment. If they are frequently irritated or causing impacts on eyesight or embarrassment due to their location, they can be removed. This can usually be done quickly by a qualified healthcare professional using an in-office procedure. This can be done by shaving or cutting off the growth using a scalpel (knife), freezing it off with a cold liquid nitrogen gas, or burning it off using heat (cauterization). 

Managing Skin Tags with Integrative Therapies

An integrative approach to skin tags targets underlying related risk factors such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and other hormonal and blood sugar imbalances. Nutrition, herbal remedies and supplements, and integrative therapies can be incorporated to help bring the body back into balance.

Nutritional Approaches for Skin Tag Management

Maintaining a healthy body weight and blood glucose levels is important to manage and prevent skin tags. Eating a whole foods-focused balanced diet can help keep blood sugar and lipid metabolism balanced while lowering the risk of being overweight.

To decrease the risk of metabolic dysfunction like with type 2 diabetes and being overweight, focus on a diet rich in fiber, vegetables, legumes, and other high-quality proteins like wild fish and grass-fed meats. This way of eating helps you maintain a balanced weight, reduces insulin resistance, improves markers of fat and sugar metabolism, and reduces inflammation to prevent skin tags from forming. 

In addition, reducing processed simple sugars and carbohydrates prevents premature aging of the skin and a loss of elasticity that can make skin tags more likely to develop. Processed sugars can bind to lipids or proteins in a chemical process known as glycation, forming substances called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs can damage the skin’s elasticity and structure so that it is more likely that skin tags will form. Instead of highly processed and simple sugars, incorporate high-fiber foods and complex carbohydrates to keep blood sugars balanced.

Natural Remedies for Skin Tags

A healthcare professional can help guide you in whether certain natural remedies may be appropriate for you when managing skin tags. Targeted natural remedies and supplements may help improve metabolic parameters to reduce the risk of skin tags or be applied topically to help resolve skin tags.

Berberine

Stabilizing blood glucose and insulin levels may improve metabolic markers and help prevent or resolve skin tags. One herbal remedy that has been shown to have beneficial effects on metabolic markers like insulin and blood sugar levels is berberine. The natural remedy is derived from the Chinese medicinal plant Coptis chinensis and is used for its ability to regulate glucose and cholesterol levels, treat obesity, and improve insulin and blood sugar balance. These impacts make it a promising approach for addressing the metabolic imbalances associated with skin tags.

Integrative Medicine and Lifestyle Changes for Skin Tag Removal

Lifestyle changes and integrative therapies are also effective for addressing the risk factors involved with skin tag formation. 

Stick on Patch

An emerging approach to removing skin tags is a stick-on patch that applies pressure to the base of the skin tag in order to cut off blood flow to the growth. A clinical trial showed that this approach can successfully treat skin tags within 3-6 days with virtually no discomfort.

Maintain an Optimal Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity can help prevent skin tags from forming. In addition, moving and getting regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce metabolic risk factors for skin tags.

Cleanse Gently 

Keeping skin moisturized and clean without stripping the skin barrier or introducing harsh synthetic fragrances can help to prevent skin tags. Opt for organically-based syndet bars without synthetic fragrances for bathing and moisturizing to prevent skin tags and reduce local complications.

Avoid Rubbing and Irritating

Since friction can increase the chance of skin tags forming, avoid constricting clothing or jewelry that may rub against your skin.

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Summary

Skin tags cause benign growths in areas where your skin rubs together frequently, such as under the breasts, in the armpits, and on the eyelids. These little growths of skin on small stalks do not usually cause symptoms or pain but can be easily removed by a healthcare professional if causing irritation or distress using heat, freezing, or minor surgery.  

An integrative approach to skin tags looks at ways to balance underlying metabolic and hormonal risk factors using diet, herbal remedies, and lifestyle approaches. This can help bring the body back into balance and prevent skin tags from forming.