Skin Tags and Metabolic Syndrome

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

This article marks the start of a series of articles about skin conditions related to metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Many people don’t see a physician. Some of them may be walking around with undiagnosed diabetes.  Usually, the first time they get diagnosed is when they are in an emergency room with a critical condition like a severe infection, a heart attack, or stroke. This happened several times when I was an emergency room doctor.

That is why this series is about the different skin conditions that may provide a clue that someone may have diabetes.

Diabetes can present with subtle signs on the outside while destroying the body on the inside.

Diabetes comes together with other problems like obesity, hypertension, and high triglyceride levels.

NeckAcrochordons
Close up of a skin tag

Skin Tags

Skin tags can grow around the neck, armpit, upper chest, under the breast, eyelids, and groin. They are small, soft, slightly darker than the surrounding skin, comes in different sizes, and usually have a short stalk at the bottom.

Skin tags are frequently multiple but can appear as a single lesion. They typically don’t cause any pain but can be irritated by wearing necklaces.   Sometimes only one skin tag can be seen, but frequently they are multiple.

It is common after 30 years of age. At 40 years, 37% of people have it. They are common in people who are overweight, have metabolic syndrome, and diabetic patients.

How do skin tags develop?

The underlying reason for most overweight and those with diabetes is the high levels of insulin and insulin resistance.

Insulin makes cells grow to get bigger and increases the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and a low insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3).

High IGF-1 triggers the formation of excess skin cells, and a low IGFBP-3 leads to a decrease in the genes that stop unwanted skin cell formation. Together they lead to the creation of excess skin that becomes a skin tag.

Skintagblemish
Note the stalk at the bottom.

Ways to Get Rid of Skin Tags.

There are several ways. One method is something like this,

Tie the skin tag at the base with dental floss or cotton thread. These will cut off the blood supply to the skin tag, which causes the cells of the skin tag to die. You will know it is worked because the skin tag gets black, and then one day, it will fall off.

This is best done by putting ice at the area first to numb it because tying a skin tag can hurt a lot.

Skin tags can also be burned in a clinic using electrocautery with local anesthesia, of course.

Another way is to freeze the skin tag using liquid nitrogen, but it has to be done carefully so that the base’s frozen skin will not get too big.

Skin_tag_.jpg
A surgically removed skin tag.

The Best Way to Remove a Skin Tag

The best way is to address the underlying cause, which is insulin resistance.  If not, more of them will pop up again in the future.

The cheapest, most effective way is to eliminate insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia by intermittent fasting and physical activity.

Take Away Messages

Skin tags may be a clue to the presence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

If you have a skin tag, talk to your doctor and ask if you need a fasting blood sugar level and a lipid profile.

Check your waist circumference.

If you have diabetes, tell your doctor if you are starting an intermittent fasting and exercise program. Some medications for diabetes and hypertension may need to be adjusted.

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Don’t Get Sick!

Related readings:

  1. Can You be Skinny and Obese?
  2. How Will You Know if You are TOFI?
  3. What Does Waist Circumference Really Measure?
  4. Why Do Bellies Bloat?
  5. Dark Skin Patch: Cause for Concern?
  6. Adult Acne is a Sign of Early Diabetes
  7. The Surprising Benefits of Sweating
  8. The Metabolic Syndrome
  9. Are You Ready for Doctor Shortages?
  10. Early Time-Restricted Feeding is Intermittent Fasting In Sync with the Circadian Rhythm
  11. 8 Ways Decent Dental Care Defies Dementia
  12. The Story of KAATSU. The Incredible Technique for Muscle Toning and Hypertrophy
  13. Can You be Skinny and Obese?
  14. What Does Waist Circumference Really Measure?

References:

  1. González-Saldiva et al.Skin Manifestations of Insulin Resistance: From a Biochemical Stance to a Clinical Diagnosis and Management. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017 Mar; 7(1): 37–51.
  2. Cordain L et al. Hyperinsulinemic diseases of civilization: more than just Syndrome X. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2003 Sep;136(1):95-112.
  3. Wali V et al. Assessment of Various Biochemical Parameters and BMI in Patients with Skin Tags. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jan;10(1): BC09-11.

Photo Credits:

  • Skin tags By Jmarchn – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39723388
  • Skin Tag with stalk By The original uploader was Jkemp at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en. Wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10417752
  • Surgically removed skin tag photo by PJtheRN [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

 

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