Patients often present with the complaint of external hemorrhoids. They may be referring to soft tissue which is flesh colored, nontender and located outside of the anal canal. The tag is often the result of stretched skin which has covered a swollen hemorrhoid or blood clot which subsequently recedes or has been absorbed by the body, leaving behind an anal skin tag. Other times skin tags appear more firm and can be associated with a painful tear in the lining of the anal canal. And lastly, some tags originate without any previous event.
Patients often complain of difficulty with cleaning after bowel movements, secondary to presence of the extra skin. Other patients simply don’t like the appearance of the anal skin tags. There is no specific treatment that needs to be completed for the anal skin tags and reassurance is often all that is required. However, many patients desire to have the skin tags removed. A minor surgical procedure can be performed in the office under local anesthesia.
