skin tags

[amandajane]

I was diagnosed with type 2 about 10 years ago, and since then have noticed an increase in skin tags on my neck and shoulders. I read that skin tags were often associated with pre-diabetes, and thought that I had them for life unless I made the decision to remove them myself (ouch) or have them removed.

However, I suddenly realised this morning, that I have far fewer than I used to have - they have all gone from my neck. Could this be because I have tight sugar control at the moment? And where have they gone?!

Has anyone had a similar experience - or perhaps my eyesight is becoming so bad I just can't see them anymore!

Thanks, Gillian

 

[daisy1]

I have had skin tags which I have removed myself. Other people get their doctors to remove them. They haven't regrown. This was long before I was diagnosed Type 2. I have less now.

 

[picklebean]

I'm type1 but I have PCOS and also insulin-resistance so I'm on a high insulin dosage. I get the skin tags too - on my neck and upper arms/armpits. I think it has a lot to do with hormones but yes, having tighter control of your blood sugars should help to improve things like this. The same goes for other skin complaints that are affected by/associated with diabetes, like psoriasis and abscesses - they'll improve with better sugar control.

I had the skin tags in my armpits frozen off by the GP a few years back because they were getting sore by rubbing on my bra - I think I'd rather put up with the soreness now as the liquid nitrogen treatment to freeze them off was SOOO painful and stayed painful for days and days. roblem:

 

[amandajane]

Thank you for replying..... yes, I had forgotten about the dreaded hormones!

Thanks too for telling me how painful the freezing off was - something to be avoided I think. I remember my mother tying a very thin thread round one of hers and stopping the circulation to it until it dropped off! I seem to think she regretted doing that!

 

[amandajane]

.... and I have just read on NHS Choices that you can cut small ones off your self! (or tie dental floss round them)

 

[daisy1]

I cut mine off with a very sharp pair of scissors. It hurts very briefly but I am used to that. I never got on with tying thread around them - I found it was too difficult to tie them and took a long time for them to go. They usually don't bleed at all when I cut them. I'd much rather do that than go to the Doctor.

 

[WilliamEE]

I have had skin tags for as long as I can remember. In my early 20's one got infected and the doctor removed it and sent to for a biopsy. About ten years ago I had about 8 or 9 skin tags frozen off from under my arms.

Currently I have just one under one arm and one on the back of my neck, which has been there for quite some time. I have some white spots on my neck but they don't look like skin tags., probably too much exposure from the sun.

My mother has a large number of skin tags and she is not pre diabetic or diabetic. She is 72.

My father passed away in 2007 and I asked my mother if she remembered whether he had said tags. She said he had many of them. My father became diabetic late in life (in his late sixities or early seventies), I think primarily due to inactivity. He suffered from emphysema in later life due to smoking and this caused his inactivity. Also he ate lots of potato and white bread with honey and jam that probably didn't help. He was underweight for much of his life.

My numbers are heading to pre-diabates and am taking steps (i.e. weight loss, increase activity, low carb/no sugar diet) to delay this as much as I can.

Looking at some internet sites, there appears to be no convulsive evidence whether skin tags are related to insulin resistance or not. I have found medical research stating that they are and medical research stating that they are not. There does not appear to have been much research done into this at this point in time.

50% for the population apparently have them and about 25% of diabetics. There is also clearly an heredity factor as well. If both your parents had or have skin tags it's almost likely that you will too. Also clothing rubbing against your skin can apparently case them.

 

[Sancho panza]

The same goes for other skin complaints that are affected by/associated with diabetes, like psoriasis and abscesses - they'll improve with better sugar control.
:

Really I never heard that about psoriasis before but then I'm new too all this.
I have always had psoriasis on my elbows not bad like some people have ( something else I inherited from my dad) so as I continue this journey and hopefully get my blood sugars under control I'll keep an eye out and see if it improves.

 

[Indy51]

I've heard people say that their skin tags fell off after starting a LCHF or Atkins style diet. When I eliminated all the processed food from my diet, I was really surprised that 2 large age spots on the back of my hands peeled off by themselves, revealing new normal skin underneath. It was a bonus I wasn't expecting!

The other unusual side effect has been tanning instead of sunburn - pretty unusual for someone with fair skin and freckles all her life.

 

[CD2 Fellow]

Hi Everyone,
We are a group of medical professionals and engineers trying to figure out if skin tags are bothersome enough for patients to want to have them removed. This is particularly pertinent in diabetic community since there is an increased incidence of skin tags with glucose intolerance. If you have a moment, please fill out this survey on skin tags to help us understand how to serve you better!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WLJ8HN3

 

[dawnmc]

Putting it in dollars CD2 is a off putting, maybe you should go pester the American market.

 

[CD2 Fellow]

Putting it in dollars CD2 is a off putting, maybe you should go pester the American market.

I apologize for the mistake. The survey has been updated. Thank you for the feedback.

 

[Chaobaby7]

I was diagnosed with type 2 about 10 years ago, and since then have noticed an increase in skin tags on my neck and shoulders. I read that skin tags were often associated with pre-diabetes, and thought that I had them for life unless I made the decision to remove them myself (ouch) or have them removed.

However, I suddenly realised this morning, that I have far fewer than I used to have - they have all gone from my neck. Could this be because I have tight sugar control at the moment? And where have they gone?!

Has anyone had a similar experience - or perhaps my eyesight is becoming so bad I just can't see them anymore!

Thanks, Gillian

I have had skin tags for ages as I had PCOS ( before my hysterectomy) I did a stupid ting using wart remover to get rid of them and they hurt so much, I hate them though. My witch marks. PCOS has been, skin tags, excess hair, infertility, apple shape and now Diabetes

 

[carol43]

I use Aloe Vera on my skin tags. They dry up and fall off.

 

[ChrisSamsDad]

Thank you for replying..... yes, I had forgotten about the dreaded hormones!

Thanks too for telling me how painful the freezing off was - something to be avoided I think. I remember my mother tying a very thin thread round one of hers and stopping the circulation to it until it dropped off! I seem to think she regretted doing that!

I've cut them off before now, stings a bit, but no more than say squeezing a zit. Had moles frozen off and zapped with an electric thing, freezing didn't hurt in the slightest, so might depend on where it is or something.

 

[eddie1968]

Coincidentally I noticed a lot of skin tags on my back, shoulders and neck too that have increased with my T2 diagnosis 6 years ago. I also have acanthrosis nigricans in my armpits that has been there a long time.

 

[Robbity]

I started getting skin tags on my neck as I got older. and just accepted them as a fact of old age life. However since starting low carbing after being diagnosed as diabetic at the end of 2013, I've noticed that most of them have disappeared completely or reduced dramatically in size to tiny bumps. Coincidence maybe but I'm not complaining!

 

[phil1966]

Before I was diagnosed, I had skin tags on my eyelids. Since I've got my blood sugar under control, they disappeared on their own

 

[kimdarren]

I use Aloe Vera on my skin tags. They dry up and fall off.

Can you tell me how you used it and how frequently? I asked my diabetic nurse if it was OK to use over the counter treatments because EVERYTHING I looked at said not for use by diabetics. She automatically set me up for a cryogenic appt and I am NOT looking forward to it. I'm sure I've got about 100 of these things (that might be a slight exaggeration ) I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks xx

 

[carol43]

@kimdarren I just smooth Aloe Vera over my neck every evening. The other way to get rid of them, apart from cutting, is to roll the skin tag between my finger and thumb until it hurts, do this every time you remember and in a few days they fall off.