Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Skin tags can be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects women and causes menstrual irregularity, infertility, and other problems. Skin tags are caused by excess skin that remains after the body has finished growing. The skin expands to accommodate the tissue underneath it, but small sections of extra skin remain since the growth is not even. This can happen anywhere on the body, but it is often found around friction caused by clothing or skin rubbing against itself.
PCOS can cause skin tags because the hormones in a woman’s body can become imbalanced during puberty or when she hits menopause. Acne, excess facial hair, and weight gain are all symptoms of PCOS. In addition, the changes in hormones can cause cysts to develop in the ovaries and other areas of the body. The cysts form a type of tissue called fibrocystic tissue, which produces acne and other problems such as skin tags. These cysts are harmless but uncomfortable for their owners because they feel like hard knots under their skin.
