Are sleep apnea and skin tags related?

People dealing with a variety of skin issues may notice that small raised elements along the dermis may form. These can be singular, irregular shaped elements that are similar to acne, but are not painful, and sometimes only in certain areas. For instance, under the breasts, under arms, along eyelids, ears, and even genitals, these growths may appear. These options are called skin tags. Tags grow due a variety of issues, and in some instances, may be associated with sleep apnea. How they are related, is a bit tricky to consider, but once you figure out how the two are connected, you may find a way to help avoid further problems down the line.

Understanding Skin Tags

Before getting into sleep apnea, it’s imperative to understand what skin tags are, and how they develop. The first thing to denote is that these are not usually cancerous, and are not more than cosmetic. They are traditionally formed when dermal tissue rubs against other skin elements. Anytime skin creases or folds, the issue can form a growth. That growth will be a tag that is isolated around the areas that are rubbing against one another. They do not usually hurt, do not bleed, or puss. It’s imperative not to scratch, or rub them, but rather apply topical solutions to get rid of them. In the case that they do not go away or they form irregular across the body, a specialist can prescribe something or remove them in office.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Moving forward to sleep apnea, it’s imperative to understand what it is and how it can cause tags to form. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause an individual to stop breathing at rest. This stoppage can be momentary, but it can lead to heart problems, cardiovascular issues, and left untreated, can cause death. The treatments associated to this issue include using a CPAP machine which forces air to continually flow, and force stoppages to curtail during sleep. However, other treatments may include weight loss, lifestyle change, and even surgery. The number one risk factor for apnea is simple, obesity. That’s where you may find a connection with skin tags.

Obesity, Sleep Apnea, and Skin Tags

As mentioned above, weight is a major factor in sleep apnea. Those that are overweight will find that the body has to work harder to breathe at night. That can lead to apnea, stopping breathing, snoring, and more. While a CPAP machine can help, the obesity element needs to be addressed. Obesity is not only a major cause of apnea, it’s a major cause for skin tags. If a person has sleep apnea, they may be overweight, and that means that there are parts of the body that fold, crease, and cause formations of tags. That’s where the connection point across these elements connect. Someone that has gained a great deal of weight, usually have tags formed. One can remove tags, get help with sleep apnea, and lose weight to eliminate the problems. However, medical professionals will need to diagnose and prescribe the right options, in order to see full results.