Whether it’s the neck, face, armpits, groin area or body folds – many people have them: fibroids.
But is there cause for concern or is it just a skin irritation? Everything you need to know about the skin tag can be found here.
What is a fibroma?
A fibroid, also known as a skin tag, is a growth of connective tissue. Contrary to what their name might suggest, fibroids are not warts but soft fibroids. These are usually skin-colored small nodules that sit on the skin’s surface. They do not cause itching or pain. Also, they have limited growth.
What are the causes of fibroids?
What might surprise many: To this day it is unclear why exactly fibroids actually form. There are studies on this topic, but only a few with groundbreaking findings.
A couple studies suggest that skin tag warts are more likely to occur in people who have diabetes or who have high blood sugar levels in general. It is also assumed that the development of soft fibroids originates in the embryonic germ tissue.
What types of skin warts are there?
There are different types of fibroids:
- The soft fibroma: is probably the most common. Men and women are equally affected. These are nodules in connective tissue that are no more than one centimeter in size and occur during puberty. The protuberances appear on the neck, armpits, or groin.
- The hard fibroma: also very widespread. Many people find the light brown spots on their skin. Often on the arms, legs, or trunk.
- The irritation fibroma: commonly found in the oral mucosa of adults. This can indicate chronic inflammation. This is usually extremely uncomfortable for those affected.
Other species are also known, but these occur much more rarely. These include the irritation fibroma on the gums “Epulis” and the fibromas that affect the bones.
How dangerous is a fibroma?
No need to worry – if you have discovered a fibroma, you can breathe a sigh of relief now, because fibromas are usually not harmful to your health. They are often benign tumors.
In addition, you do not have to be afraid of the risk of infection. Fibromas cannot be transmitted. They often appear with increasing age and cannot go away on their own.
Does a fibroma need to be treated?
Usually, fibroids do not need to be treated. As already explained, these are mostly benign growths of the connective tissue.
Sometimes, however, it can happen that the skin tag becomes inflamed. You can tell by a dark discoloration. It can happen, especially if the small nodule is on a skin area that is subject to sweat and friction.
Then you should definitely consult a medical professional. In general, there is no risk from a fibroma getting skin cancer.
However, many people are bothered by their fibroma for purely aesthetic reasons, for example if it can be seen on the face or neck. The fibroma can often also interfere with everyday life, for example if it is in the eye and disturbs the blinking of the eyelids. In both cases one can think about a possible treatment.
Some even try to cut away the skin tag themselves. This is not advisable in any case, as it can lead to very serious infections! If you want to have your fibroma removed, it is best to contact your treating dermatologist.
What treatment options are there?
In most cases, the removal of fibroids is not covered by health insurance. Therefore, find out in advance about possible costs in your dermatological practice.
These are the typical procedures for removing fibroids:
- With special scissors: In the case of small fibroids, the nodule is removed with special scissors without anesthetic. Cost: approx. 25 euros.
- With a scalpel: If the skin tag is larger, the growth is anesthetized locally and cut away with a scalpel. Cost: approx. 50 euros.
- cryotherapy: The fibroma is frozen with liquid nitrogen. Cost: approx. 50 euros.
- laser treatment: The skin tag is removed with a laser. This ensures that it does not grow back. Costs: from around 50 euros.
- electrosurgery: A somewhat outdated method of burning the nodule using an electric current. Cost: approx. 50 euros.
- Eye Laser/Electric Knife/Scalpel: In the case of fibroids on the eye, treatment should definitely be considered, as this can be very disruptive, especially in everyday life. In this case, the health insurance covers the amount. Cost: between 50 and 70 euros.
Important NOTE: The information in this article contains general information only. To clarify a health problem, we recommend a visit to a trained and recognized doctor.