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PCOS and Skin Tags: How They're Related
Most of the time, the small growths known as skin tags that can grow on your body are harmless. But that doesn’t mean they are not a window into your overall health.
Especially when combined with other symptoms, skin tags that occur on women can be a sign of a hormonal condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As we enter PCOS Awareness Month in September, let’s explore the connection between skin tags and PCOS with Thomas Nguyen, MD, of Nguyen Medical Group in Boynton Beach, Florida.
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a chronic condition that can develop in women at any time after puberty. Getting this diagnosis means you have an imbalance of androgens and other hormones in your body.
PCOS is common in women and isn’t a dangerous problem on its own. However, it can cause unpleasant symptoms and other medical issues.
Some of the most common conditions linked to PCOS include:
- Infertility
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Ovarian cysts
Often, women first get diagnosed with PCOS when they have difficulty getting pregnant and seek out infertility support.
The link between skin tags and PCOS
Early diagnosis helps control the unpleasant symptoms of PCOS and assists women of childbearing age in becoming pregnant. Skin tags are one of several signs that can indicate PCOS.
If your skin tags are a result of PCOS, they often occur around your neck and armpits, especially in clusters of several skin tags. In some women wth PCOS and skin tags, the skin tags can occur alongside acanthosis nigricans, an issue that causes patches of skin to darken and appear velvety.
Along with skin tags and acanthosis nigricans, other symptoms of PCOS include:
- Irregular or no menstrual period
- Thinning hair
- Hirsutism (hair growth) on the chin, chest, stomach, and arms
- Significant recurring acne
- Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight
- Problems getting pregnant or pregnancy complications
Some women also experience mood swings and mental health conditions like depression. These come from hormonal changes caused by PCOS and the stress of managing the condition.
Managing PCOS and skin tags
Our team recommends visiting us for an evaluation if you have excessive skin tags, primarily if they are clustered in one location, to determine if PCOS or another condition is causing them. A diagnosis of PCOS requires a combination of examinations and tests.
PCOS isn’t curable, but we can help you manage the condition and alleviate some of the symptoms. Treatment for PCOS often involves taking hormonal contraception or other medication to help get your hormones into balance.
Hormonal treatment helps reduce symptoms like skin tags, excess acne, hirsutism, and weight gain. In addition, we can remove excess skin tags using a simple in-office procedure. Acne medication further reduces breakouts, and a healthy lifestyle plan helps you manage your weight.
If you have other underlying conditions caused by PCOS, such as diabetes, treating those conditions at the same time improves your PCOS and overall health. If you would like to get pregnant, our team works with a fertility specialist to help you conceive while managing PCOS.
PCOS can cause skin tags, fertility problems, and other complications, but many women manage the condition successfully and go on to have healthy pregnancies. If you’re struggling with skin tags, PCOS, or both conditions, contact us for support.
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