Anal skin tags are a common and benign skin issue.
They may feel like small bumps or raised areas on the anus. It’s common to have multiple skin tags at once.
We explore more about why anal skin tags form, how they’re diagnosed, and what to expect from treatment.
An anal skin tag appears as a piece of excess tissue around your anus or in the surrounding area.
It shouldn’t lead to pain or bleeding, but an anal skin tag can become bothersome, itchy, and uncomfortable due to the presence of extra skin tissue.
These skin tags usually start small but might grow over time. The reasons for growth include repeated trauma from cleaning or recovering from clotted hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
What causes anal skin tags?
The skin around the anus is often looser than the skin on other parts of the body. That’s because the skin in this area needs to expand during bowel movements so stool can pass.
If a blood vessel near the anus swells or enlarges, it can result in a hemorrhoid. The excess skin that a hemorrhoid produces becomes a skin tag. The extra skin might remain even after the swelling has gone down.
Bulging or swollen blood vessels can occur due to:
- straining due to constipation
- diarrhea
- heavy lifting
- intense exercise
- pregnancy
- blood clots in or around the anus
- excessive irritation or friction in the area.
What to expect during removal
Anal skin tag removal is usually an in-office procedure. Skin tags are on the exterior of the anus, which means your doctor can access and remove them easily. It’s rare that you’d need to visit a hospital.
For the procedure, your doctor will inject a numbing medication around the skin tag to reduce any pain. You may also be given a sedative to help you relax. Before removing the excess skin, your doctor will clean the area with antibacterial soap.
The process of removing the skin tag is very fast and simple. Your doctor will use scissors to cut away the excess skin.
If you’ve had hemorrhoids or other blood vessel conditions in your anal area, you may be more likely to develop anal skin tags.
