Dear Nancy,

I've seen many patients with fleshy, or brown pigmented "skin tags"
during pregancy/breastfeeding.  They can get them anywhere but commonly
on the neck/chest.  I've seen them on the breast but not particularly
areola.  they are usually very "fine."  The Moms who get them at all seem
to have  MANY of them.    I assume it is hormones that causes their
proliferation at this time.  When I see "skin tags" on the areola, I thnk
they are more likely to be "hypertrophied" glands of Montgomery.  I have
had at least one patient describe these as skin tagsand ask when they
would go away.  Unfortunately, she had not breast-fed :( and was about 2
mos post partum at the time.  They did "go away" in another couple
months.  Lawrence's 3rd edition p.36 says "The Montgomery glands become
enlarged and look like small pimples during pregnancy and lactation."

meg
Margaret A.  Wright, PA-C
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