The key difference between hemorrhoid and skin tag is that hemorrhoid is a swollen vein in the anus and lower rectum while skin tag is a growth that hangs from the skin.
Skin conditions affect the skin, which is the largest organ of the body. Hemorrhoids and skin tag are two skin conditions. Both these conditions can affect the anus and lower rectum region. However, these skin conditions have different characteristics and aetiologies.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Hemorrhoid
3. What is a Skin Tag
4. Similarities – Hemorrhoid and Skin Tag
5. Hemorrhoid vs. Skin Tag in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Hemorrhoid and Skin Tag
7. Summary – Hemorrhoid vs. Skin Tag
What is a Hemorrhoid?
Hemorrhoids, also called piles, occur when the veins around the anus swell and become distended. The symptoms of a hemorrhoid include bright red blood after defecation, an itchy anus, feeling like you still need to defecate after using the toilet, mucus in the underwear, a lump around the anus, and pain in the anal region. Hemorrhoids can develop due to increased pressure in the lower rectum through straining during bowel movements, sitting for long periods of time, having chronic diarrhoea or constipation, obesity, being pregnant, having anal intercourse, eating a low fibre diet, and regularly lifting heavy items.
Figure 01: Hemorrhoid
A hemorrhoid can be diagnosed through digital examination and visual inspection (anoscope, a proctoscope, or a sigmoidoscope). Furthermore, treatment options for hemorrhoids may include eating high-fiber foods, using topical hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, soaking regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath, and taking pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin or ibuprofen.
What is a Skin Tag?
A skin tag is a growth that hangs from the skin, typically found in skin folds such as armpits, groin, anus, thighs, eyelids, neck, or under the breasts. Skin tags are characterized by small, painless, and harmless growths on the skin, usually less than 1 cm in size. If they rub against clothing or jewelry, they may become sore and bleed. Skin tag can be caused by lifestyle and genetics and some health conditions like overweight and obesity, diabetes, and pregnancy.
Figure 02: Skin Tag
A skin tag can be diagnosed through questions and examining the skin. Furthermore, treatment options for a skin tag may include cryotherapy, excision, and hyfrecation.
What are the Similarities Between Hemorrhoid and Skin Tag?
- Hemorrhoids and skin tags are two skin conditions.
- Both these conditions can affect the anus and lower rectum region.
- Both these conditions can be diagnosed through an evaluation of physical symptoms.
- They can be treated through surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Hemorrhoid and Skin Tag?
Hemorrhoid is a swollen vein in the anus and lower rectum, while a skin tag is a growth that hangs from the skin. Thus, this is the key difference between hemorrhoid and skin tag. Furthermore, hemorrhoid occurs mainly on the anus and lower rectum, while skin tag occurs mainly on the armpits, groin, anus, thighs, eyelids, neck, or under the breasts.
The infographic below presents the differences between hemorrhoid and skin tag in tabular form for side by side comparison.
FAQ: Hemorrhoid and Skin Tag
How do I know if it’s a hemorrhoid or skin tag?
Skin tags appear as small flaps or folds in the skin which are of the skin colour. In contrast, hemorrhoids appear as lumps, and they are dark blue or purple in colour.
Do hemorrhoids turn into skin tags?
Hemorrhoids normally heal, and the vein shrinks, but some stretched-out skin may remain, leading to the formation of a skin tag.
How to remove skin tags?
Cryotherapy and electrocautery are two methods that can be used to treat skin tags.
Summary – Hemorrhoid vs. Skin Tag
Hemorrhoids and skin tags are two skin conditions that can occur on the anus and lower rectum region. Hemorrhoid occurs when veins around the anus swell and become distended while skin tags appear as small flap folds in the skin. Moreover, hemorrhoids are caused due to increased pressure in the lower rectum whereas skin tag is caused due to lifestyle and genetic causes and some health conditions. So, this summarizes the difference between hemorrhoid and skin tag.
Reference:
1. “Hemorrhoids: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Skin Tags.” NHS Choices, NHS.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Depiction of a person suffering from Piles (Hemorrhoids)” By Myupchar.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Skin tag” By PJtheRN – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia