Confused if your anal discomfort is due to hemorrhoids or skin tags? Read on to find more about hemorrhoids vs skin tags in depth!
Anal Discomfort
The anal region is as prone to diverse medical conditions as other human body parts. If you feel any discomfort, pain, or lump in this region, consider getting it checked by a proctologist. Certain medical conditions might cause confusion, such as hemorrhoids and perianal skin tags, as both appear as a lump around the anus. The discomfort can be due to any of these two conditions, but in order to be able to report it to your doctor, you must identify the source. Let’s learn more about hemorrhoids vs skin tags in the article below.
Hemorrhoids
Increased pressure on the rectum or anus due to excessive straining in the toilet, obesity, or sitting for an extended period of time can lead to hemorrhoids. Pregnancy and aging are risk factors as well. They can appear as dark blue or purple lumps that have swollen veins within. Hemorrhoids can develop inside as well as outside of the anus. Symptoms for hemorrhoids include:
- Itchiness
- Discomfort
- Mucus discharge
- A feeling of stool being stuck inside the rectum
- Rectal bleeding
Skin Tags
Skin tags are small flaps or folds in the skin that is similar in color to the surrounding skin. It usually appears in places that are prone to friction that arises due to skin rubbing together. The usual spots on which these skin tags occur are the neck, armpits, eyelids, groin, and anus. They appear as soft skin pieces having a stalk. Symptoms of skin tags include:
- Itching
- Intermittent swelling
- Discomfort
- Bleeding
- Hygiene problems
Hemorrhoids vs Skin Tags
The table given below will help you better understand the difference between hemorrhoids and skin tags.
| Hemorrhoids | Skin Tags |
| Hemorrhoids are dark blue or purple and comprises of blood vessels. | Skin tags are just folds of skin, usually of similar color as the surrounding skin or slightly darker. |
| You must treat hemorrhoids as they cause pain and discomfort. | Skin tags do not require treatment as they are harmless. |
| Hemorrhoids treatment include topical creams, rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, coagulation, or surgery. | You should monitor skin tags to see that they do not turn malignant. You can manage symptoms conservatively with steroid creams and barrier creams. If they cause too much discomfort, laser therapy, cryotherapy electrocautery, or cutting methods are a few options to remove them under local anesthesia by a medical professional. |
| Hemorrhoids develop from within and pop out usually after a bowel movement or spontaneously. They can often be pushed back inside. | Skin tags develop externally and you cannot push them back inside. |
| Can be solitary or multiple and develop due to straining during bowel movement, sitting for long periods, pregnancy, obesity, anal intercourse, regular lifting of heavyweights and chronic diarrhea or constipation. | Skin tags can be solitary or multiple and can develop as a consequence of hemorrhoids, anal fissures, virus, obesity, constipation, heredity, Crohn’ disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, pregnancy etc. |
| Rectal bleeding can occur often on even mild irritation. While you might spot bleeding only sometimes on wiping the anal region. | Painful only in some cases. |
Prevention and Management Techniques
Hemorrhoids
Prevention and management for hemorrhoids include:
- Consume a high fiber diet
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid straining during a bowel movement
- Don’t sit for too long at a time
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain an ideal weight
Skin Tags
Prevention and management include:
- Wear loose cotton underwear
- Practice regular bowel movements
- Avoid straining while in the toilet
- Don’t wipe your anal area excessively
- Maintaining an ideal weight
Once you identify the source of pain in and around your anal area, pay a visit to your doctor and share your thoughts with them to get better guidance. Don’t simply overlook such conditions as they can be painful and give a lot of discomfort.