Could Duloxetine (brand name: Cymbalta) cause cutaneous skin tags?

People of all ages and backgrounds take medications for various reasons. You may be taking medication to help you with a condition, or a disease, and that can have side effects. Side effects to medications of all types can lead to discomfort, and even skin irritants. For some, this can be problematic, as the side effects could be quite severe. For others, things aren’t so bad, and that’s something to explore on a deeper level. If you have been prescribed Duloxetine, which is also known as Cymbalta, you may experience certain side effects. Some people assume that one of the side effects includes cutaneous skin tags. Understanding what skin tags are and how they may form is the key to understanding whether or not your medication is to blame for the issue.

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are growths on the dermis that come up due to friction. Whenever the body has a fold, crease, or any sort of issues, a small amount of collagen is sent to that area, which then pushes up a growth. That growth is known as a skin tag. These are not cancerous, they are not dangerous, do not hurt, and will not cause much of an issue overall. However, it is important that you do not pick at them, scratch them, or try to pop them. They are not the same as zits, legions, or anything along those lines.

What Causes Skin Tag Formation?

In most cases, the issue is a matter of skin rubbing against itself. You’ll find that this is a problem that most people will not really consider overall. But it’s the main culprit. Whenever the skin may rub against itself, whether on a crease, fold, or even wrinkles, there may be a tag formed. This is more cosmetic than anything else, but it’s worth noting none the less.

Aside from friction, there are some medical issues that can be blamed for tag formation. For instance, you’ll find that certain medical problems can lead to skin stretching, folding, and creasing overall. This can include obesity, diabetes, pregnancy, HIV infection, steroid use, and of course side effects due to certain medications.

Could Duloxetine Be To Blame?

There are a few cases that do blame this medication for skin tags. However, the studies done on the medicine do not seem to note that this is a major side effect that you should be concerned with. That’s something that you should really take into consideration, as not everyone will get this problem.

The medication may cause a disruption in gland production, and cell generation along the dermis. If that’s the case, then tags may come out as a result. Tags can grow due in large part to a variety of different means, but friction, weight gain, weight loss, and a disruption in hormones can also cause this. If you suspect that your medication is to blame, consider asking a physician for a different medicine or dosage. They can also remove the tags for you, and help them from coming back again, which is a good thing overall. At the end of the day, the medication may not be to blame, but it also cannot be ruled out completely.