Hello, As you know I work with a lot of Seattle area patients.
A young lady has come to be and I am not sure how to help.
She is poor and w/o the ability to see a doctor.
She has skin tags which have always been benign.
One that has been located in her left armpit region for years has become a problem.
The tip is black, and it extends half of the length of the tag.
This tip is hard, not such as it was (soft) when it was just a skin tag.
I thought perhaps she irritated it somehow causing blood flow and that it is blood build up.
Or that it was dying.
Please advise.
Jmcc.
Posted by mikken (Member # 2276) on :
Jmcc,
Well, I did some looking around and it seems to be the concensus that skin tags do not become cancerous.
I think that your assessment is correct.
If she wants to remove it, she can try the old trick of tying it off tightly with thread at the base of the tag. As its blood supply is cut off, it eventually dies and falls off. My mom did this once for my dad who had an annoying skin tag and it took time, but worked just fine.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
There was a year or so ago on here a poll discussion how many people get these who have lyme lots. Ive had them it may be associated with bug bites I dont know? I had 3 on my kneck one night when I was younger I got sick of them and I was consuming my favorite beverage and I got a pair of scisers pinched one at a time gently lifting and snipped some rubbing alcohol and tada no more of them.
Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
skin tags can be associated with other illnesses. I know that they are associated with PCOS poly-cystic ovarian syndrome.
If your client has had any problems with weight, or abnormal periods she might want to look into this. THere is a lot of info on line, but unfortunately not a lot that can be done to treat the disease well.
Many people are unaware that PCOS can be life threatening and later in life can lead to heart conditions. Not to scare you or her, just want to put this out there.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I have seen in several places that skin tags indicate insulin resistance.
I never saw that they may be associated with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome.
I grew a bunch of them following the births of my children.
The skin tag with the black tip sounds like it is ~half~ dead.
A dermatologist will charge alot to clip one off. If you use thread to tie one off, you may get alot of pain, as some of them have nerves in them.
But if you do try this, cover it with a bandaid so that clothing doesn't move it back and forth while it is dying.
I found that if you do clip one off, be sure to hold pressure on it for several minutes, in case it bleeds. Then cover with a bandaid, let it dry out and heal. This is my own experience with it.
I can't clip any more of mine off myself, I found that I get nauseated when I do things like that. (Even though this is not harming myself.)
Carol
Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
Thank you all!
I spoke with Ida this morning. That black tip
fell off in the night.
Betty great advice. I read it to her. She is a
big girl and is shy about it. I have had one or
two but my general docs have always removed them
because I would say that they irritate me.
Thanks all.
Jmcc.
Posted by pattilynn (Member # 8065) on :
I don't know for sure regarding her case but I have several skin tags and yes, some of them have developed black tips on them. They've been this way for years and I'm still alive.........
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
glad you posted; I've had these the past 2-3 years and didn't know why. I'm diabetic 2 too.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
quote:Originally posted by trails:
If your client has had any problems with weight, .
Weight? is that only in females the weight problem??
Posted by Trina (Member # 9270) on :
Tying them off and putting a piece of tape over them will make them disapear every time.
Also to get rid of warts just keep them covered with tape.Duct tape works great!Keep them coverd for several days.
I know a young girl who got rid of several on her hands this way.Plantar warts I think.
Posted by Thereminator (Member # 8324) on :
Yow!...I just cut one of the little bast@#ds off! Stings and bleeds a little,but not to bad.
I tried to tie it off but no one mentioned the third-arm you need.I found an(aparently dull) pair of sissors and after two attempts I just grabed it and pulled it off.
A small and somewhat therapeutic victory for this Lymey.One down,three to go,(NOT looking forward to that night...I dont Drink!). Alan
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Alan