Ear tags

Skin tags are projections of skin-colored or darkly pigmented tissue that outgrow from the surrounding skin from a small, narrow stalk (pedunculated). More than half  of the general population has been reported to have skin tags at some time in their lives. Skin tags are more common in overweight people.

A variant of these skin tags is an ear tag which arises anywhere on the line joining the corner of mouth to tragus of ear. It is said to have rudimentary ear tissue in it , although it is completely benign. The only treatment for skin tags/ear tags are surgical removal, although treatment is essential only if they are cosmetically bothersome.

Removal of the ear tag should be done in toto as they very commonly have an extension that runs deep into the normal underlying skin 

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A 12 year old boy came to us last week reporting a growth on his left cheek that had been present since he was a baby.Being unsightly, he wanted removal of the same.The procedure was done under local anaesthesia and was an out patient procedure that was over in about 15 mins. The tag had deep extension into the skin that had to be remeoved carefully in toto.He was discharged an hour after the procedure.He will have no scar on the face as the incision used for removal of the tag was less than 5mm in diameter.

We at Richardsons Dental and Craniofacial Hospital regularly treat such conditions like skin tags, ear tags, warts and moles and other benign and malignant facial lesions.