Can Retinol Cause Skin Tags? Facts on Benign Skin Growths

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are small, soft, benign skin growths that look like tiny warts or flaps of hanging skin. They are connected to the surface of the skin by a thin stalk. Skin tags are usually found on the neck, armpits, around the groin, under the breasts, or on the eyelids. They range in size from just a millimeter to a few millimeters across. Skin tags are extremely common and affect up to half of all people.

What Causes Skin Tags?

The exact cause of skin tags is unknown, but they appear to occur from skin rubbing against skin. The constant friction encourages skin cells to grow faster and cluster together, forming a skin tag. Skin tags can develop at any age but are more common in middle age and beyond. Factors that may increase the risk of developing skin tags include:

• Obesity
• Insulin resistance and diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Aging skin
• Dry skin
• Using creams and ointments frequently

Are Skin Tags Dangerous?

Skin tags are almost always benign (noncancerous) and don't cause any health problems. Rarely, skin tags may bleed or become irritated from rubbing on clothing or jewelry. Large skin tags can become twisted, cutting off the blood supply and turning the tag black or dark blue. If this happens, see your doctor to have the skin tag removed.

Can Retinol Cause Skin Tags?

There is no evidence that using retinol leads to the development of skin tags. Retinol (vitamin A) is one of the most popular ingredients in anti-aging skin creams. It boosts collagen production and increases skin cell turnover, making the skin look plumper and more youthful. While retinol may cause irritation, peeling, redness or dry skin when first used, skin tags have not been reported as a side effect in studies.

How Retinol Works on Skin

Retinol's anti-aging abilities come from its capacity to accelerate skin cell turnover. The outer layer of skin, the epidermis, is constantly shedding dead skin cells and replacing them with new cells from the lower layers. This renewal process slows down with age. Retinol speeds it up again by:

• Promoting exfoliation to shed built-up dead skin cells
• Increasing epidermal thickness and collagen production
• Stimulating elastin synthesis to improve skin elasticity
• Reducing pigmentation and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles

Effective Strengths of Retinol

Over-the-counter retinol creams contain strengths between 0.1% to 2%. Stronger prescription retinoids like tretinoin or adapalene contain 0.01% to 0.1%. When first using retinol, start with a low strength of 0.25% or less and gradually increase to higher strengths over several weeks as your skin adjusts and becomes more tolerant.

Side Effects of Retinol

Using retinol, especially for the first few weeks, can cause a range of temporary side effects as the skin adapts. Common retinol side effects include:

• Dryness, flaking, peeling, redness, irritation
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight. Use sunscreen daily.
• Skin purging - acne breakouts as clogged pores come to the surface

These side effects normally improve within a few weeks as the skin gets used to retinol. Always introduce retinol slowly and use moisturizers to counter dryness and irritation.

Are Skin Tags Contagious?

Skin tags are not contagious. You cannot spread or catch a skin tag from someone else. Skin tags occur when clusters of skin cells grow rapidly for unknown reasons inside the top layer of skin. They are not caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus that could potentially spread to other people.

Safe Skin Tag Removal at Home

Skin tags generally do not require removal. But if they become irritated or unsightly, skin tags can be safely removed at home.

• Tying off: Tie dental floss or thin thread tightly around the base of the tag to cut off the blood supply.
• Freezing: Use a skin-tag removal product containing liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the tag.
• Burning: Touch the tag lightly with a hot needle tip or small cautery device to burn it off.

After a few days the skin tag will dry up and drop off. Keep the area clean while it heals. See a dermatologist if any infection occurs.

When to See a Doctor

Consult a dermatologist about skin tag removal if:

• The tag bleeds, itches, hurts or becomes infected
• The tag obstructs vision or interferes with clothing, jewelry, etc
• You have a large number of skin tags appearing
• You are concerned about scarring from removal

Dermatologists can remove skin tags quickly and safely using surgical scissors, cryotherapy freezing, or cauterization and desiccation burning. Some tags may be sent for biopsy to check for cancer if their appearance seems suspicious.

Can Skin Tags Turn into Cancer?

Skin tags are almost never associated with cancer. However, in extremely rare cases, a skin tag may develop into a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. Warning signs to watch out for include:

• Sudden change in size, shape or color
• Bleeding, itching, crusting, ulceration
• An irregular border or unusual blood vessels
• A hard, scaly base
• Oozing, scabbing or not healing after injury

Skin cancers rarely arise directly from an existing skin tag. But skin tags can sometimes disguise early skin cancers. People with many atypical moles and at high risk of melanoma should have any changing moles or skin tags examined promptly by a dermatologist.

Who Gets Skin Cancer?

The following factors increase the risk of developing skin cancer:

• Fair skin that burns easily
• Blonde or red hair
• Blue or green eyes
• A history of sunburns early in life
• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• HPV infection
• Smoking cigarettes
• Weakened immune system
• Genetic syndromes like xeroderma pigmentosum

While anyone can get skin cancer, over 90% of cases occur in non-Hispanic whites. Skin cancers also tend to develop in areas of the body most exposed to the sun like the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back.

Preventing Skin Cancer

Reduce your skin cancer risk by:

• Using broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen daily
• Avoiding the sun during peak hours (10am - 4pm)
• Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, hats, and clothing
• Not using tanning beds
• Doing regular skin self-exams
• Seeing a dermatologist annually for a full body skin check

What's the Difference Between Skin Tags and Warts?

Skin tags and common warts may look similar, but they are different skin conditions.

Skin Tags

• Soft, skin colored, and may have a small raised lesion
• Attached to the surface by a thin stalk or peduncle
• Tend to appear on eyelids, neck, armpits, groin folds
• Range from 1-5mm in size
• Occur from skin rubbing on skin
• Harmless overgrowths of skin tissue

Common Warts

• Firm, grainy, grayish-brown rough bumps on the skin
• Caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• Found on hands, knees, elbows, face
• Pinhead to 1cm wide in size
• Spread through touch, contact, picking at
• Contagious viral skin infection

Skin tags are not contagious or related to any virus. They are harmless outgrowths of skin tissue and do not require removal unless bothersome. Warts are contagious viral infections that may spread if left untreated.

Removing Warts

Warts often go away on their own within months or years. But they can be removed by:

• Freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy)
• Applying salicylic acid
• Laser treatment
• Cauterization and burning
• Surgical excision

See a dermatologist for stubborn warts or warts on the face or genitals. Over-the-counter treatments work best on younger patients with a strong immune response.

Are Skin Tags a Sign of Diabetes?

People with diabetes tend to develop more skin tags than the general population. Skin tags are not a definitive sign of diabetes, but they should prompt investigation for diabetes if other risk factors are also present.

Who Gets More Skin Tags?

Studies show certain groups develop increased numbers of skin tags:

• Middle-aged and elderly adults
• Obese individuals
• Pregnant women
• People with diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes
• Patients with abnormal lipid profiles

The association seems strongest between skin tags and obesity and diabetes. One study found 73% of people with skin tags also had diabetes.

Link to Insulin Resistance

Researchers speculate that growth factors and hormones that lead to insulin resistance may also trigger excessive skin cell growth and proliferation. Insulin-like growth factors may spur benign tumors like skin tags.

Checking for Diabetes

If you develop numerous skin tags, see your doctor about possible diabetes risk. A blood test can check blood sugar and HbA1c levels. If diabetes is detected early, treatment can prevent complications like kidney disease, nerve damage, eye problems, heart disease, and stroke.

Maintaining normal body weight, exercising regularly, not smoking, and eating a healthy diet can all help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Skin tags themselves do not need treatment unless they become irritated.

What Vitamins Are Good for Skin Tags?

No vitamin or nutrient has been clinically shown to remove skin tags or prevent new ones from forming. However, getting adequate nutrition supports overall skin health and may help reduce skin irritation.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and protects against damage from the sun's UV rays. Citrus fruits, red peppers, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes, and kiwi are good sources.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may help strengthen the skin's protective barrier. Find it in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, avocados, spinach, and broccoli.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A as retinol is widely used to reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, mangoes, and eggs provide vitamin A.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Niacin may help reduce water loss through the skin to keep it moisturized. Brewer's yeast, beets, beef, fish, and peanuts have niacin.

Avoid Deficiencies

Make sure you get adequate nutrition to prevent vitamin deficiencies that could impair skin health. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein, and whole grains. Take a daily multivitamin to help meet your nutritional needs if desired.

When to See a Doctor for Skin Tags

Most skin tags are harmless and do not require removal. But see your doctor or dermatologist if:

• The tag frequently bleeds, itches, hurts or gets irritated
• A skin tag rapidly grows or changes size, shape or color
• Skin tags begin bleeding or crusting
• You develop a lot of new skin tags
• Skin tags impair your vision or interfere with clothing
• You have a weakened immune system from illness or medications
• Signs of infection like redness, warmth, pus, fever occur
• Scarring is a concern if you try removing the tags yourself

Dermatologists can diagnose any abnormal skin growths and safely remove troublesome skin tags using surgical excision, cryotherapy freezing, or cauterization and burning. Some tags may need biopsy to check for cancer if their appearance seems suspicious.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic if you have:

• Uncontrolled bleeding from a skin tag
• A quickly enlarging or painful skin growth
• Signs of a skin infection like red streaks, fever, warmth, drainage

These symptoms could indicate an underlying health problem needing prompt medical evaluation. Catching any potential skin cancers early on increases treatment success.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.