Adult patients suffering from skin tags often wonder whether or not they will pass the condition on to children or grandchildren. This is a legitimate concern in light of the fact that many other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea have all been proven to be genetically transmitted. Research has been undertaken in the area of skin tags to see if the same dynamic applies. While nothing has yet been determined conclusively, research does seem to indicate the possibility of a genetic cause of skin tags in some people.
Despite the possible link between the two, it is important to note that even if the development of skin tags turns out to be genetic, the fact that you have them may not necessarily mean you will pass them on to your children. There are plenty of instances where known hereditary diseases skip a generation or two, or even cease to exist in a family altogether. It’s also important to note that while skin tags may be embarrassing, they are benign and completely harmless.
One thing to consider in relation to the hereditary possibility of skin tags, is the fact that there countless other factors that go into determining the root causes of any given disease. In other words, just because researchers find a genetic link in multiple people with the same condition doesn’t necessarily mean that a faulty gene is causing the condition. The area of genetics is still largely unknown in many ways and should be treated with a measure of scepticism.
The idea of the hereditary transmission of skin tags first came about as the result of studies regarding skin tags and obesity. In trying to determine why some of these people develop skin tags and others don’t, researchers noted that in the group that did have the issue it was common to find others in the family who also had it. Likewise, in the group that did not exhibit the skin tags, their family members also did not tend to develop them. This seems to indicate some sort of genetic link.
Over the years there have been other studies in relation to diabetes which suggest the same thing. However, until medical science can determine conclusively what causes skin tags, from the standpoint of pathology, a firm genetic link cannot be established.
Regardless of whether or not skin tags are the result of genetic defect, a treatment remains the same across the board. You can simply leave them alone and see whether or not they disappear on their own. If they don’t, they can be ignored indefinitely without any danger of becoming more serious. For those who wish to have them removed anyway, there are several options.
The first option is to purchase an over-the-counter remedy. There are a few on the market that are made from only natural ingredients and which contain no chemicals or dangerous substances. These types of remedies are by far the safest. They do not irritate the skin or have any inherent risk of scarring.
Your next option is to look for homoeopathic remedies posted on Internet forms and bulletin boards. Some of these home remedies seem to work while others do not. The only way to tell which ones will work for you is to try them individually.
The third option is to have your doctor remove them through one of several methods. He may choose surgical excision with a scalpel or scissors, freezing the skin tags (cryotherapy), or burning the skin tag off using an electrified needle (cauterization).
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