What Causes Infected Skin Tag On Inner Thigh?

Posted on Sat, 21 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 Answered on

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a skin tag on inner thigh that's been infected for a few days. A clear fluid has been coming from it today that smells tonight I noticed my upper thigh looks swollen. Almost like the fluid is in it

Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Kindly send details & pictures of the area.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

I can understand your concern for the skin tag on inner thigh and related problem. It appears that the area of infection is presently spreading. In view to help you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. or else you can send your pictures at

YYYY@YYYY

With attention " Dr. Sanjay XXXXXXX Kanodia "

Do let me know the intensity of pain at the affected area. Any hisitry of raised blood sugar or diabetes.

Hope to hear soon from your side.

With regards,

Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (2 hours later)

this is what it looked like when the infection started and what it looks like now. 2 inches on each side of thigh has fluid in it. there is no pain at all in the thigh and the infected skin tag only hurts when touched. but not a high level pain. more like it's sore.

Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You can take anti-inflammatory medication & apply an antibacterial cream.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome again and thanks for posting your pictures and the details.

After analyzing the pictures I can get that the area is secondarily infected over and around the skin tag and that's why there is swelling and fluid in it.

In all such cases it is always better to get an antibiotic treatment by a doctor.

Thigh area is quite prone for friction and is moist area so can get secondarily infected. It is quite common to get recurrence of such lesions and again become infected.

Till the time you meet a your doctor you can take anti-inflammatory medication such as diclofenac or paracetamol or Ibupreofen for one to two times after meals. You can apply an antibacterial cream such as mupirocin or gentamycin.

Wear lose cotton clothes and avoid all the work which can cause friction over the area. Do not try to touch or pinch or pop the area as can cause further spread.

I hope this information's will help you. If you have further queries I will be happy to help.

"Wish you good health and early recovery from the problem"

With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar