Paloma Faith shares bath selfie as she asks for advice on pregnancy skin tags

Paloma Faith has revealed she is experiencing an unexpected symptom during pregnancy: skin tags.

The singer, who is pregnant with her second child, posted a picture of herself in the bathtub with a caption on happiness and all the things she misses because of the pandemic.

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At the end of the caption, Faith says: “Pregnancy skin tags?! I look like you could pin me to a pin board I’ve got so many, can’t remember if they drop off?!

According to the NHS, skin tags are made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin. Both men and women can develop skin tags and they are more common in older people and people who are obese or have type 2 diabetes.

The NHS also notes that pregnant women are more likely to develop skin tags as a result of changes to their hormone levels.

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“Skin tags are known to be more common during pregnancy and this is thought to be due to a number of factors. Weight gain and increased friction - particularly under the arms and the groin may be partly responsible,” Dr Emma Wedgeworth, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson tells Yahoo UK.

“Then the surge in growth factors and the hormonal changes during pregnancy also seem to promote skin tag growth.”

How to get rid of skin tags

Wedgeworth adds that while some skin tags shrink down after pregnancy, others may persist.

“Skin tags are harmless and don’t need to be removed, however people sometimes find them unsightly and occasionally uncomfortable,” Wedgeworth continues.

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“They are simple to remove in a clinic by freezing them, electrocautery or cutting them off. Occasionally we can tie a suture around the neck of the skin tag - a technique called ligation."

However, she warns against "DIY removal techniques as they could potentially be harmful".

For more information about skin tags, visit nhs.uk/skin-tags

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