What are anal skin tags? Anal skin tags, or rectal skin tags, are common and usually harmless growths that hang off the skin around the outside of the anus. They are often mistaken by patients for warts or haemorrhoids piles. Anal skin tags are non-cancerous benign and are not contagious. In most people, anal skin tags cause no bother but some people feel concerned about how they look and can also experience irritation and pain.
What causes anal skin tags? In most cases, you will have more than one. They rarely cause pain but can be uncomfortable as residual stool can get stuck to the skin and cause irritation and itching.
Repetitive wiping to avoid residual stool as well as itching can also cause breaks in the skin tags and surrounding area which can be painful. What to do if your anal skin tag is bleeding Anal skin tags do not usually bleed so this symptom may be a sign of another problem. We recommend you make an appointment with one of our colorectal consultants for an examination. Anal skin tag diagnosis Anal skin tags are diagnosed by a colorectal consultant during a clinical examination.
At your appointment, your consultant will ask you to remove your underwear and lie on your side. They will then perform a visual examination, looking at your anus for signs of skin tags. Occasionally they will need to feel inside your bottom with a finger or perform a proctoscopy.
If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, they may recommend a biopsy or removal of the skin tags. Anal skin tag treatment In most cases, anal skin tags can be effectively managed with lifestyle changes. If you suffer from constipation, for example, increasing the amount of fibre in your diet and the amount of water you drink can help to loosen your stools and avoid the development of anal skin tags.
