An anal skin tag is a bump that appears on the skin around the anal region. It is not uncommon to have more than one at a time.
Symptoms of Anal Skin Tags
Anal skin tags look like small pieces of excess tissue surrounding your anus, or in the approximate area.
While they should not be excessively painful or bleeding, anal skin tags have a habit of becoming uncomfortable, itchy, and bothersome to some.
The tags generally start small and grow larger over time. Some reasons for growth can include repeated agitation from cleaning, or be the lasting result of hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
What causes Anal Skin Tags?
Because the skin needs to expand during bowel movements in order for stool to pass through, this often leaves the skin surrounding the anus looser when compared with other parts of the body.
When a blood vessel by the anal region swells or becomes enlarged, the result can be in the form of hemorrhoid. The extra skin that the hemorrhoid creates can then become a skin tag.
Bulging or swollen blood vessels can happen because of:
- Straining because of constipation
- Diarrhea
- Heavy Lifting
- Intense physical activity
- Pregnancy
- Blood clots in and around the anus
- Excessive irritation or friction in the area
If you have had a history of hemorrhoids or other blood vessel conditions in the past, it is more likely that you will develop anal skin tags.
Additionally, if you have had Crohn’s disease or a similar inflammatory condition, anal skin tags can form due to inflammation.
Diagnosing Anal Skin Tags
While skin tags are benign, it is still important to get them checked out. That is why it is important to seek attention from a medical professional if you are concerned about having a skin tag.
In order to make a proper diagnosis, you will need to go through a physical exam.
In this exam, you will be asked to lie on your side and remove your undergarments so that your doctor may perform both a visual and physical examination.
In most cases, they will insert a finger into the rectum to feel for larger masses or bumps that may present as a skintag on anus.
In some cases, it becomes necessary for your doctor to use tools to perform further investigation into the rectum.
An anoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy can both help to rule out any further colorectal concerns, or even cancer.
Once your doctor gives you a diagnosis, you can discuss treatment options. It is important to note that every case is different, and the decision to perform anal skin tag surgery will depend on your unique situation.
Anal Skin Tag Treatment
There are various treatment options when it comes to skin tag removal:
- Excision: The anal tag is removed with a surgical scissor or scalpel
- Laser: The skin tag is removed via laser
- Cryotherapy: The skin is frozen off using liquid nitrogen
- Electrodesiccation: The skin tag is dried out via an electrical current
What to Expect During Anal Skin Tag Removal?
When it comes to skin tag on anus removal, it is rare that you need to go to a hospital, and can generally be done in-office. Because they are on the outside of the anus, your doctor can access them easily and remove them.
- Your doctor will inject a numbing serum around the area to reduce pain. In some cases, you are given a sedative to relax.
- Your doctor will clean the area with antibacterial soap
- The procedure is fast and simple, and your doctor will use surgical scissors to get rid of the excess skin
Some doctors, however, prefer the use of a laser or liquid nitrogen to remove the tag. Using Cryotherapy, the liquid nitrogen freezes the tag and it will fall off in a matter of days with no need for further procedure. Using the laser, it burns the tag away and any skin left should fall off in the process.
Your doctor will likely remove one skin tag at a time to give the area time to heal and reduce the chance of infection.
Following the procedure, you should stay home and relax. Do not lift any objects or attempt physical exercise.
The next day, you should be able to go back to work and resume life as normal.
You may also be prescribed antibiotics or antifungal cream following the procedure. The creams are intended to help reduce pain and sensitivity following the removal.
How to prevent anal skin tags?
Following a skin tag removal procedure, you should be sure to talk to your doctor about preventing skin tags in the future.
- Try taking a laxative or other fiber supplement to make your stool softer, and therefore, easier to pass
- Apply lubricant or another cream to rectal area proceeding a bowel movement
- Sanitize the anal region after every bowel movement
Although these at-home measures can help, they are not 100% effective in preventing skin tags. If you think you have a skin tag and want to consider further treatment, speak with a medical professional right away.
Anal skin tags versus hemorrhoids: How to tell the difference?
A hemorrhoid is a swollen blood vessel located in the rectal or anal area. It can cause discomfort, pain, itching, and sometimes bleeding during bowel movements.
While the veins that hemorrhoids impact are a natural part of the human body when enlarged, they risk prolapsing and protruding from the anus.
It can be easy to confuse hemorrhoids with skin tags, due to their proximity, but there are a few key differences you can use to tell them apart:
- Pain: Anal skin tags are generally painless, while hemorrhoids can be extremely painful
- Bleeding: Hemorrhoids generally bleed even with minimal contact but anal skin tags do not
- Color: Hemorrhoids tend to appear red or purple, skin tags are usually the same color as your skin tone.
Anal Skin Tags versus Warts: How to Tell the Difference?
In addition to skin tags and hemorrhoids, warts can also appear around the anal region due to HPV (human papillomavirus). Here is how to tell the difference between them:
- Size: Anal skin tags generally reach the size of a few centimeters at most, while warts can grow over time and cover the entire area surrounding the anus, as well as spread to the genital region.
- Burning sensation: While anal skin tags can cause discomfort or itching, anal warts often create a burning itch, and even bleed after continued contact.
- Surface: Anal warts generally have rough skin, comparable to that of a cauliflower. Anal skin tags have a surface similar to that of your skin, but perhaps slightly wrinkled.
If you are not sure whether the bumps on your skin are a result of anal skin tags, hemorrhoids, or anal warts, it is best to consult with an experienced medical professional.
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I visited Dr. Kamrava for the anal skin tags that my son had. He was the only doctor providing laser treatment for anal skin tags at the time. He did an excellent job of presenting our options and the pros and cons of this laser therapy. Despite the fact that we lived quite far away, we ultimately made the decision to make a trip to the office based on all the information that Dr. Kamrava gave us. The procedure went quite well, with a quick recovery and no follow-ups. Excellent experience, if necessary, we wouldn’t think twice about using Dr. Kamrava’s services again.
One of the nicest visits to a doctor’s office that I have ever had in Los Angeles. The front desk staff is extraordinarily friendly and highly competent (rare in L.A.). I was happy and couldn’t ask more for my visit. They quickly took me in after my first phone call and Dr. Allen and his nurse are outstanding. I’m not sure why his reviews aren’t all five stars, but then again, I’m a doctor too, and occasionally I’ll receive a negative review since nobody can please everyone, and there are some unhappy people out there. The man is smart, and polite, and he truly made the experience enjoyable. Strongly recommend to everyone if you are looking for anal skin tag treatments. I’m grateful, Dr. Kamrava.
About a year ago, I went to see Doctor Kamrava for help with anal skin tags. He was always reachable by phone and patiently answered all of my inquiries during the entire treatment. Dr. Kamrava is not your typical medical professional. He works hard to build relationships with his patients and he is compassionate and empathetic. I can honestly say that while under Dr. Kamrava’s care for anal skin tags, I completely trust him, despite the fact that I typically have anxiety about surgery. Dr. Kamrava and his team provided excellent service, and I wouldn’t recommend them more if you are looking for the best colorectal surgeon in Los Angeles.
For more than ten years, I had been having pain in my lower back and was scared to seek medical attention. I looked up Dr. Kamrava’s office online and, after reading the positive testimonials, decided to contact them. I was immediately connected and at ease throughout the initial consultation on the phone. I made an appointment for the following week at a time that was convenient for me. Major plus. I was so anxious during the week that I waited. My mind raced with ideas about how serious the problem I had been avoiding had become.
I met with the doctor in about five minutes, and I was relieved. He was very friendly and professional, and I didn’t feel at all uneasy with him. After he listened to my problem (love that), he commented on what he thought might be happening. After that, he performed a check-up on me, and it was discovered that I was alright! My “main” issue (in my thoughts), which had been bothering me for years, had resolved itself. My shoulders felt like they were being lifted off a million tons. I had faith in the doctor because I knew he had a lot of experience and he is trustworthy.
Overall, I’m delighted to find Dr. Kamrava’s office. All went well, thank God. I learned a valuable lesson from this not to ignore signs from the body.
I’ve had anal skin tags for few years, and throughout that time I’ve had many doctor appointments, sleepless evenings looking up information on my condition on the Internet, and countless hours of suffering in silence because I felt like recovery was utterly out of my reach. Dr. Kamrava saved my life. He was the first doctor I spoke with that put me at ease and gave me hope that I could heal as he specialized in anal skin tags treatments. Despite the possibility of a recurrence and the fact that the surgery is quite expensive, I felt safe and confident with his care. I will always be grateful to him for helping me deal with something that has given me years of pain and suffering.
