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What Are the Causes of Intestinal Skin Tags?

Intestinal skin tags, like more common form of skin tags, are benign skin growths. They are small pieces of skin attached to the body--in this case, the walls of the intestine--at one end, leaving the rest of the piece of skin to flap. Intestinal tags can be caused by a variety of issues. Some are simple, while others can create serious health issues and problems.

  1. Features

    • Intestinal skin tags are usually invisible. However, when they are a symptom of anal cancer, which can develop at the end of the intestine near the anus, they may be visible as small skin flaps on or near the anal opening. They are often mistaken for hemorrhoids. They can also occur in the company of sores or abscesses in this area if you suffer from Crohn's disease. Skin tags can also occur within the intestine due to irritation caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or the more severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, you will not be able to see these skin tags unless the doctor sees them during a colonoscopy and isolates them for further diagnosis.

    Significance

    • Most people develop one or more skin tags at some point in their lives. However, if you have intestinal skin tags, then they are usually indicative of some type of imbalance or irritation. If you see these tags in your anal area, you need to have them checked along with the rest of your intestine.

    Effects

    • If your intestinal skin tags are not bothering you, then the odds are that they will never even be identified, much less investigated or treated. However, in areas like the anal area, skin tags can easily become infected and inflamed. They can make the skin in the area sore and itchy, and they may actually ulcerate.

    Identification

    • The only way to identify the cause of an intestinal skin tag for sure is to have it removed and biopsied. This will let your doctor know if it is just a normal skin tag, brought on by lack of circulation or irritation in the intestinal area, or whether it is actually a malignant growth or a benign indication of a larger problem. If your doctor believes that the skin tags are indicative of a larger problem--or that they may be part of a problem with your intestinal system--then they will likely perform a basic skin tag removal. External tags, even in the anal areas, can be clipped off by a doctor for further analysis in a nearly painless procedure. While it is more difficult to remove them from within the intestine, this can also be done if necessary.

    Warning

    • While skin tags in general are fairly harmless, intestinal skin tags often indicate larger issues. Even if you already know that you have Crohn's disease, anal or intestinal cancer or IBD, you should still have any intestinal skin tags evaluated immediately. They can be the first warning sign of a flare-up or an indication of other problems.

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