Many doctors and researchers have determined that there is a link between skin tags and diabetes, but only a small percentage of people will have these conditions. Precisely what causes skin tags has not been identified, but they are most often associated with those who are overweight, have diabetes, are pregnant, or are age 50 or older. However, anyone can develop skin tags and at any time.
When some people hear that skin tags and diabetes have been linked, they assume that they are a sign of diabetes, but this is not the case. Just because you have them does not mean you are diabetic. It’s just that those who are diabetic are more likely to get skin tags.
While the exact reason for this is not obvious, it seems to have something to do with the body’s resistance to insulin. It also has to do with the fact that there are a lot of diabetics who are also overweight and overweight people are also prone to developing them. Another misconception is that everyone who is a diabetic will get them. This is not true either. Only one out of every four people with diabetes develop skin tags.
There have been cases where a diabetic with skin tags gets normal levels of insulin, they clear up and do not occur as often as they had previously. Also, the number of skin tags they get at one time decrease as well. It’s not unusual for diabetics to develop clusters of them at one time or to have them crop up in multiple numbers all over their bodies.
Skin Tags And Diabetes Concerns
They are annoying and irritating and can be embarrassing, depending on where they develop on your body, but they are not harmful to your health. In that regard, there is no need to worry. They are not cancerous, and they are not an indication that you will develop cancer. However, if you think there’s a possibility that you could have diabetes and you have tags, it would not hurt to go to your doctor and get tested.
If you are not sure if you could be diabetic, there are a few factors you can look at to see if any of them relate to you. For instance, are there other diabetics in your family? Are you overweight? Do you eat unhealthily? Or are there any different circumstances that would lead you to believe that diabetes is a possibility for you?
If even one of these factors relates to you and you have skin tags, get tested because you will never know unless you take that step. Untreated and uncontrolled diabetes can lead to many other health problems and can even cause death. You don’t want to take that chance, so let those skin tags guide you in that direction if there is even the slightest chance you could fit into that diabetic category.
Having Them Removed
Many people with skin tags decide to use a natural alternative skin tags treatment or an over-the-counter remedy. You can do the same, or you can go to your doctor to have them removed with a different procedure.
[two_third_first]If you are diabetic, one thing you need to be careful of when you’re removing them is infections. Diabetics are known to heal at a slower pace than non-diabetics, and they are also more prone to infections than non-diabetics. Infections in diabetics can go from bad to worse very quickly, and there can be life-altering repercussions of those infections such as needing to have a limb amputated or something else just as severe. So if you’re treating skin tags on your own, be very observant and visit your doctor at the first sign of trouble.
A sensible way to treat them is by applying Australian tea tree oil several times a day. Many people find that they dry up and fall off. It doesn’t work for everyone, but this treatment option is easily affordable and has no known side effects.[/two_third_first]
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Signs of an Infection
One thing to note is that skin tags can become infected even if you haven’t attempted to remove them. Friction from skin-to-skin contact or clothing rubbing on them can cause them to become irritated and also infected sometimes. Here are a few things to look for if you have skin tags and diabetes to prevent an infection from getting too bad.
When a skin tag has become irritated, it may begin to grow in size due to increased blood flow. You may even feel some pain, especially if you touch it. It may also turn red or bright pink. It’s at this point that you know it is irritated, and possibly infected, so you should take precautions to make sure it doesn’t get worse.
Skin tags can also bleed sometimes. Usually, this only happens when you are trying to remove it, such as if you’re trying to tie it off or cut it off yourself, or it can happen if it is bumped into and injured somehow. Usually if one begins to bleed, there will not be a lot of blood, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to handle taking care of it on your own.
However, if the skin tag has become irritated and infected the bleeding may be much worse than it would be ordinarily. This is because there is more blood in the skin tag due to it being inflamed. You may have a harder time getting the bleeding to stop on your own in this case. It’s also at this point that you should visit your doctor to get his or her assistance in removing the skin tag and treating the infected or injured area.
If you have skin tags and diabetes, make sure you take care of yourself and the skin tags to prevent any health issues from arising. And if you have skin tags but aren’t sure if you have diabetes, get it checked for peace of mind.