Decoding the Mystery: Five Intriguing Causes Behind Skin Tags that Everyone Should Know About
While it remains unclear why exactly skin tags form, experts believe that they could be connected to hormonal changes and imbalances. Pregnant women, for example, often find the incidence of skin tags increasing, especially in the second trimester when hormonal activities spike. Furthermore, skin tags frequently show up during puberty, another period associated with intense hormonal fluctuations. Even people with diabetes, a condition that brings hormonal changes, are known to suffer from enlarged skin tags. Thus, it is safe to say that hormones could be one integral piece in the skin tag puzzle.
Weight Gain and Obesity
Interconnected with the issue of hormones is obesity. Excessive weight gain can lead to insulin resistance and, in turn, lead to the alteration of hormones. This connection could be a plausible reason why obese individuals often suffer from skin tags. However, weight gain might also be a causative factor in more direct ways. Particularly, skin folds and creases developed due to obesity are prime locations for skin tags, which generally appear in areas where the skin experiences friction.
Genetic Factors
Skin tags might also run in families. It's not uncommon for multiple members within a family to have skin tags, pointing towards a genetic connection. Some researchers are now considering the possibility that certain individuals could be genetically predisposed to developing skin tags. Indeed, the phenomenon of skin tags has led scientists to dig deeper into the way specific genetic patterns contribute to this skin condition.
Advancing Age
Age could be another considerable factor when it comes to skin tags. As individuals grow older, the likelihood of skin tags forming tends to increase. Most adults will have at least one skin tag by the time they reach their sixties. Although they can occur at any age, skin tags usually appear in middle-aged and older adults. The reason why age contributes to the increase in skin tags is unclear, but it could be related to changes in the skin structure and elasticity over time.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Recent research points towards the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as a possible cause of skin tags. Even though the role of HPV in skin tags generation remains controversial, certain studies have identified traces of HPV in skin tags. However, this isn't definitive proof, and more studies are needed to confirm this link.
The Role of Friction
Friction plays a major part in the formation of skin tags. They frequently develop in areas of the body where skin repeatedly rubs against other skin or clothing. Typical zones include the neck, armpits, groin, and eyelids. Therefore, continuous friction caused by skin-to-skin or skin-to-clothing contact might be a triggering factor in the development of skin tags. It also explains why skin tags are more common in parts of the body with creases and folds.