Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
skin tags, cysts or warts?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
skin tags, cysts or warts?
by skincurious, Jul 09, 2007 12:00AM
I have about 6 small growths in my pubic area (I'm 28 years old). Most of them are right above the base of my penis where my pubic hair is (one to the left and two to the right). The smallest one is about 1/4 inch above my pubic hair. 2 are about 1/4 inch from the base of my penis on the shaft. They look exactly like skin tags I used to have in my armpit area. They are very small, firm, flesh colored (maybe a little more pink) and do not itch. I'm not sure how long I've had these but I first noticed most of them probably less than a year ago. One of them was thought to be caused by a hair follicle by my GP (pilar or sebaceous cyst?)...this was before the others grew or before I noticed them. I don't notice any cauliflower shape because they are really too small to notice if there is any intricate detail. Only one is large enough to grab between two fingers that one is on the shaft and can be pulled and stretched like skin (maybe the size of a very small teardrop). I do trim the hair with a dry razor and hair clippers. I just assumed they were skin tags since they look like my other ones but I'm growing more concerned. It will be a couple weeks before I can see my dermatologist so I want to know what this sounds like and if it is possible for this many skin tags and/or cysts to grow in the same area in such a small amount of time. Also what are the major differences between skin tags, warts, and cysts caused by the hair follicle? Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Jul 11, 2007 12:00AM
, Jul 11, 2007 12:00AM
It would be unusual for skin tags to grow so quickly. They may be molluscum contagiosum, a kind of non-HPV wart that often appears in the pubic area of adults without necessarily having been contracted sexually. If you have a sexual partner, check whether there are similar ones in the pubic area of the partner. But basically, leave them alone and show the doctor when you go. If they are mollusca, the doctor can take care of them promptly. And in men they don;t have any other implications once gotten rid of. Of course, if they're skin tags the doctor can get rid of them too.
Take care.
Dr, Rockoff
Take care.
Dr, Rockoff
