Your body goes through a multitude of changes during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Throughout the duration, your skin will be affected by elevated hormone levels. You’d probably expect to get at least a few of those dreaded stretch marks, and you have probably heard the horror stories about spider veins. There are likely to be other changes that you may not have heard about, such as developing small skin tags.
Skin tags are growths of skin, or clusters of cells, as some people like to describe them that develop on various parts of the face and body. They are loose, attached to your body by a small stalk. Usually, they are tiny, but people do get large skin tags.
They are normally the color of your natural skin tone but can be slightly darker. Do note that if a skin tag turned black overnight, it’s ‘probably’ about to die and fall off. While they are annoying, the good news is that they are harmless and do not affect your health in any way.
Small Skin Tags During Pregnancy Removal & Treatment Methods
There are many different options available for treating and removing skin tags, including:
- TagBand's innovative design works fast to remove skin tags!
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- #1 SKIN TAG REMOVER & MOLE REMOVER - Unlike most other treatment methods, HaloDerm TARGETS THE ROOT of your skin tag or mole and removes it for good.
- FAST & EFFECTIVE HOMEOPATHIC FORMULA - This cost-effective method provides incredibly fast results. We know moles and skin tags can be annoying, bothersome & even embarrassing at times. We created this formula with the goal of helping people feel & look their best! In most cases, skin tags and moles will fall off naturally within 7 - 10 days.
- JUST ONE 20-MINUTE SINGLE APPLICATION - Pristine Herbal Touch Wart & Mole Vanish removes 2-5 large growths or 5-25 smaller growths with one kit. Read the instructions fully and start the removal process with our one, 20-minute application process.
- FAST & EFFECTIVE MOLE AND SKIN TAG REMOVAL - One, 20-minute application is normal in most circumstances. No daily application of creams, oils or acids! Check out our before and after photos to see examples of real people who have removed unwanted moles, warts, and skin tags.
However, most doctors sometimes advise you to wait until after your baby is born before removing skin tags. This may be due to the treatments that they use, which include tying off, freezing, and cutting off skin tags.
While you can get over-the-counter solutions for a small outlay, you’ll typically pay a doctor upwards of $100 to remove each skin tag. If you’ve got a cluster or multiple skin tags, medical costs can add up quickly. Unless you have an infection, they won’t be covered by your insurance. As we’ve discussed, they aren’t a health concern. Removing them is only considered to be a way of enhancing your physical appearance.
If you do decide to treat pregnancy skin tags, you can’t go too far wrong with tea tree oil – it’s safe and won’t harm you or your baby. A lot of women have enjoyed success in getting rid of skin tags with natural tea tree oil. Take a look at the reviews and see for yourself. Feel free to read more about tea tree oil for skin tags in this post, especially if you’re looking for a 100% safe alternative to an OTC treatment.
Do Skin Tags Go Away After Pregnancy?
It is also possible that once you have had your baby that the skin tags may disappear on their own, so treatment won’t even be necessary. It may be preferable to wait and see because skin tag removal can sometimes lead to scarring, depending on the type of treatment that you use. However, many women find it hard to live with them because they’re irritating or they understandably want to look attractive and feel good.
Where Skin Tags Tend to Appear
Common places for them to appear when you’re pregnant include your neck and face, on or under the breasts, under the arms, and the genital region. However, they can appear anywhere on your body at any time. If you are pregnant and have never had them before, you can still get them, and they are likely to multiply in number during your pregnancy. It is in the later stages of pregnancy that they tend to appear.
What Causes Skin Tags?
While the actual cause of small skin tags has not been determined, it is thought that they grow on pregnant women due to the fluctuations in hormones which may stimulate them to grow. It could also be due to the rise in hormones coupled with increased friction on certain areas of the skin brought on by the weight gain during the second half of the pregnancy.
The important thing to remember is that, no matter how they developed, they won’t hurt you, they are not cancerous, and they can be treated relatively easily.
Who Is More Prone to Skin Tags?
Aside from pregnant women, they often affect people over the age of 50, overweight or obese people, and individual with pre-diabetes. They tend to develop on areas of the body where there are creases or folds. You’ll find them anywhere where skin can rub on skin and create friction, or even where tighter clothing may rub the skin. Some babies develop skin tags on the ear, which is potentially a cause of greater concern.
Other Skin Changes to Expect During Pregnancy
Glow
Now that you know more about small skin tags during pregnancy, you may also wish to know more about some of the other skin changes that can occur during pregnancy. First of all, there is the “glow” that everyone talks about pregnant women having. This glow occurs due to increased blood flow and causes you to look as though you’re blushing, though it’s pretty subtle.
Blotchy Skin
During the middle to the end of your pregnancy, you may notice that your face has become blotchy with brown or yellow-colored patches. This is due to the change in hormones that stimulate your skin to produce additional pigment. It usually goes away after you have had the baby and your hormones have dropped down to a more normal level.
Acne
Then, of course, there’s the acne. Again, thanks to a rise in hormones, you may experience some bouts of acne. All you can do about it is use a gentle facial cleanser to make sure your pores stay clean and free from oils. The acne usually disappears after you have the baby as well.
Itchy Skin
Many pregnant women also develop a rash that looks similar to heat rash, and it is very itchy. There isn’t much anyone can do to get rid of the rash and treating it with anti-itch creams is about all that you can do. It can make for a miserable few months, but there is hope for relief. The rash usually disappears shortly after delivering the baby.
Small skin tags during pregnancy are perfectly normal, and they may go away on their own after you have given birth. This means that you can decide to wait and see, get medical treatment from a doctor (if they’ll help you), or apply a natural treatment.
We’ve discussed why natural tea tree oil is such an amazing option, and how it could get rid of tags in 2 to 6 weeks. We recommend staying away from other non-natural treatments for now as health and safety are always paramount.