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Suggest Treatment For Skin Tag At The Back Of The Throat
Question: I noticed a small skin tag type thing at the back of my throat. It doesn't really cause any discomfort.
My concern is that I did smoke a pack a day for about 12 years, I am now 30. I just quit smoking in January of this year, with the use of e cigarettes.
My concern is that I did smoke a pack a day for about 12 years, I am now 30. I just quit smoking in January of this year, with the use of e cigarettes.
Brief Answer:
Wait and observe tonsillar tag
Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thank you for sharing the clincial image.
It appears like a small tonsillar tag or an elongated tonsillar crypt. It's rounded and smooth surface does not make it look like it's anything to be worried about. It is possible that chronic smoke or the recent vaporised nicotine through the e-ciggeretes may have caused this tonsillar tissue to swell up a bit. It also looks slightly inflamed along with the rest of your throat which could be due to the vapours or early viral pharyngitis or some amount of acid reflux ( Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease).
In my opinion, I would advice the following approach
1. Keep a watch on the tag and look for any change in size or colour for a week- if it grows or turns bright red and starts to become painful or exudes pus or you develop a painful neck node then it is recommended that you see an ENT specialist for a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. If it becomes irregular and bleeds easily with a hard and fixed neck node then a biopsy may be indicated as per your treating ENT specialist.
2. For now use an oral antiseptic rinse such as dilute Betadine or chlorhexidine to gargle the region before and after meals for 3 days.
3. Keep your diet bland and soft. Drink upto 2 litres of water every day.
4. Avoid smoking (even with e- cigarettes) and alcohol for atleast a week. Switch to nicotine gums or patches for the time being.
It will be useful to see another photograph of the region after a week to look for any improvement or changes. As of now the tag seems incidental and doesn't appear to be worrisome.
Hope this information helped you. Do keep me posted and reach out if you need any other assistance. Don't worry too much about it as stress can create an ulcer in the region and complicate the situation.
Wait and observe tonsillar tag
Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thank you for sharing the clincial image.
It appears like a small tonsillar tag or an elongated tonsillar crypt. It's rounded and smooth surface does not make it look like it's anything to be worried about. It is possible that chronic smoke or the recent vaporised nicotine through the e-ciggeretes may have caused this tonsillar tissue to swell up a bit. It also looks slightly inflamed along with the rest of your throat which could be due to the vapours or early viral pharyngitis or some amount of acid reflux ( Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease).
In my opinion, I would advice the following approach
1. Keep a watch on the tag and look for any change in size or colour for a week- if it grows or turns bright red and starts to become painful or exudes pus or you develop a painful neck node then it is recommended that you see an ENT specialist for a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. If it becomes irregular and bleeds easily with a hard and fixed neck node then a biopsy may be indicated as per your treating ENT specialist.
2. For now use an oral antiseptic rinse such as dilute Betadine or chlorhexidine to gargle the region before and after meals for 3 days.
3. Keep your diet bland and soft. Drink upto 2 litres of water every day.
4. Avoid smoking (even with e- cigarettes) and alcohol for atleast a week. Switch to nicotine gums or patches for the time being.
It will be useful to see another photograph of the region after a week to look for any improvement or changes. As of now the tag seems incidental and doesn't appear to be worrisome.
Hope this information helped you. Do keep me posted and reach out if you need any other assistance. Don't worry too much about it as stress can create an ulcer in the region and complicate the situation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Wow thanks for the reply! I wasn't sure how effective this site would be.
I will monitor it for a week, and see what happens. I'm curious what your opinion on e cigarettes is, in general. Do you approve, or disapprove?
Is the inflammation something that I should be concerned about? I do feel tightness in my throat on occasion, but seems to be related to dehydration, as it goes away when I drink a bunch of water. When I turn my head while sleeping, my airway actually feels restricted, when i am experiencing the tightness. I know the propylene glycol in the e liquid does dehydrate you, and I don't drink enough water.
I will monitor it for a week, and see what happens. I'm curious what your opinion on e cigarettes is, in general. Do you approve, or disapprove?
Is the inflammation something that I should be concerned about? I do feel tightness in my throat on occasion, but seems to be related to dehydration, as it goes away when I drink a bunch of water. When I turn my head while sleeping, my airway actually feels restricted, when i am experiencing the tightness. I know the propylene glycol in the e liquid does dehydrate you, and I don't drink enough water.
Brief Answer:
No reason to worry at present
Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thanks for writing back.
At present the inflammation is not presenting with any symptoms other than some redness. There is nothing to be concerned about and it should heal within a week.
There is no scientific data at present that supports e- cigarettes are better or safer than the usual cigarettes. To my understanding it's vaporised nicotine that goes in is similar to what is absorbed from normal cigarettes. The e-ciggeretes are probably more eco friendly as there is no smoke and reduces passive smoking. In my opinion I would advice you to try nicotine gums or patches since they break the craving cycle for nicotine. It will help you leave smoking with the support of your will power of course. If the choice is between cigarettes and e-ciggeretes then I would think e-ciggeretes are probably less harmful.
I think you are right about the dehydration and drinking upto 2 litres of water every day will help. This should reduce the feeling of tightness. Try this for a week too and if it doesn't help in the chest tightness then it may make sense to get an X Ray to examine the lung fields.
Let me know how this turns out.
No reason to worry at present
Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thanks for writing back.
At present the inflammation is not presenting with any symptoms other than some redness. There is nothing to be concerned about and it should heal within a week.
There is no scientific data at present that supports e- cigarettes are better or safer than the usual cigarettes. To my understanding it's vaporised nicotine that goes in is similar to what is absorbed from normal cigarettes. The e-ciggeretes are probably more eco friendly as there is no smoke and reduces passive smoking. In my opinion I would advice you to try nicotine gums or patches since they break the craving cycle for nicotine. It will help you leave smoking with the support of your will power of course. If the choice is between cigarettes and e-ciggeretes then I would think e-ciggeretes are probably less harmful.
I think you are right about the dehydration and drinking upto 2 litres of water every day will help. This should reduce the feeling of tightness. Try this for a week too and if it doesn't help in the chest tightness then it may make sense to get an X Ray to examine the lung fields.
Let me know how this turns out.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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