Hey everyone, I'm an oldie on this forum, but I lost the password to my old account. It's been a few years since I have posted on here, and unfortunately, the fissure still bothers me here and there.
What's been bugging me the most is my two skin tags attached to my anus (sounds pleasant, I know :D). My anus is basically blocked by these two pieces of skin and I have to clean around and between them whenever I have a BM. They always get itchy (like every time I have a BM, so almost everyday, for the past few years). If I start itching the actual skin tag, the fissure sometimes gets irritated as well. But the tags get soooo incredibly itchy/irritated/annoying !
I've been living with this problem for so many years. The cream (diltiazem I think?) really provides relief for me. I honestly feel that the cream would heal my fissure, but it's so hard to apply to the area directly when my anus is literally covered by the two skin tags :(. I really want to have them removed now and want YOUR expert advice on the procedure, whether you had it done, recommendations, etc. I asked my Dr. and she advised I Don't do it, because she thinks it'll loosen my anus and result in incontinence (she said surgery does the same). I'm 26 & she thinks I'm too young/shouldn't have any such surgery until I have babies, because I'll likely get the same fissure/skin tag problem when I give birth
I just feel that the skin tags are really "suffocating" my arse now. I feel them anytime I clean my BM and they also look really disgusting. I"m getting married next year so the look does bother me. What bugs me the most is how easily the tags get irritated, how they make it harder to clean myself and apply the medication, and just the fear I have of them getting infected or something. Please give me any suggestions you have about these tags ! (Note - I've tried using aloe vera & vitamin E, as well as some herbal skin tag remover stuff. It shrinks a little bit I want those damn those removed or I want them to fall off)!!
Sorry for all the anger . Glad to be back on this forum.

The CRS who did my Botox injections automatically removed mine without even consulting me. I was having the Botox done under general anaesthetic and had signed the consent form to say that I consented to any other procedure they deemed necessary. When I woke I found I'd had my skin tags removed and haemorrhoids banded as well!
The surgeon said it was more hygenic to remove the tags, or something like that, and also that they became inflamed sometimes (I think that's what she said, it was two years ago now that I had that procedure done) so could contribute to the discomfort down there.
I hadn't thought of skin tags as being particularly significant, but having them removed was similar in pain afterwards to having had a haemorrhoidectomy.
I've never heard that having skin tags removed leads to incontinence. That's a new one on me. There is a risk of incontinence with the LIS operation. I had the LIS operation almost a year after the procedures mentioned above, and that finally fixed the pain I was in. So I've got no haemorrhoids, no skin tags, a healed fissure and a lower muscle tone in the internal sphincter, so shouldn't develop fissures again or if I do, they'll quickly heal (so the final surgeon I saw - the one who finally fixed the problem - told me).
I don't know about holding off until after you've had babies. I was 56 when I had the procedure, so past my child bearing years. Is this your primary care doctor that's told you this, or a colorectal surgeon? Can you take a second opinion if you're not happy?
It might be that your skin tags are more of a problem than the ones I had - I never really looked at them, but did get itching. Then I developed a fissure and got a lot of pain. It was all fixed finally by the LIS operation. I only use water now to clean my anus - I give it a blast from the power shower, holding the shower head to the area. I'm careful not to have the shower on a really powerful setting however - I don't want to aggravate the area - just enough to clean all over. Would something like that work for you to help clean, to get into the nooks and crannies? I shower after every bowel movement.

Your post was so helpful Lauren, thank you. Answered so many of my questions.
I've had this problem in my bum since I believe 2006. It's really taken over my life. Usually my fissure flares up again if I begin itching the area, and the skin tags get so itchy, so I end up scratching. I don't want to believe that I have to live with this stuff forever. My BMs are now regular and I'm eating well... So I'm really wanting to get rid of the skin tags, and hoping thereafter it'll be easier to heal the fissure(s).
I really want to have them removed. It's my general doctor who said that stuff, but I'm thinking of finding a new doctor. The only fear I have of finding a good CRS. I live in Canada and it seems most of you live in America or the UK, so I couldn't even take a recommendation from one of you. The CRS my GP originally referred me to just rushed his way through the appointment & I wasn't really comfortable with him.
Did the botox create any incontinence for you? I also feel cleanest down there when I use wipes or water, so I could start doing that. Just so desperate to get the tags removed, but I don't want to end up creating a bigger cut. I heard some remove them via banding or laser???

Hello again :)
I wonder if it would be an idea to post on all the anal fissure forums you can find, asking for recommendations for a surgeon in Canada. It might be that there are forums which have more Canadians posting.
It's difficult if your GP referred you to a surgeon you weren't happy with. I don't know how your public health system works, but in the UK, GP's usually refer you to someone at a local hospital in your health area. If you have health insurance or want to go privately however, it seems they know of people they'd recommend. Doctors often know who the good doctors are in a particular field, and who they'd see if they had a problem. However it doesn't seem that you trust the judgment of your GP based on your experiences, so asking her to recommend someone good may not help.
As to whether the botox created any incontinence, I don't remember having any problems of that nature with it. The first time I had it, the surgeon banded my haemorrhoids and removed skin tags as well, so the anus wasn't exactly as it would have been if I'd only had Botox. The second time, six months later, I had Botox alone. I don't recall incontinence either time, except possibly when it first took effect and my anus wasn't used to it, and even then, I don't think it was major. Because it was 20 months ago when I had my last Botox however, and because I've had the LIS operation since then, my memory on the subject is no longer fresh.
I found using wipes on my anus, or anything, irritated it, which is why I ended up using just water - but if you don't have problems with wipes that's great.
I don't know anything about removal of tags via banding or laser. I had my haemorrhoids banded, so it may well be a procedure they also use with tags. The haemorrhoid banding was very successful. Obviously you'd have to refer to a CRS about it.
Thinking more about the childbirth aspect. When I gave birth at the age of 32, all the pushing did make my haemorrhoids worse. It might be that it does have an effect on the anus sometimes. Obviously this is another thing to talk to a CRS about. However I've never read of younger women not being offered or having treatment for anal conditions. You'd need to talk to a specialist to reassure you on this point I'd think.
All the best with whatever path you take forwards.

Hello I am a male living in Western Canada with a large skin tag and I know what you are going through.
It makes it difficult to clean the area after a bowel movement so I have to have a sitz bath then wipe dry with a towel after I clean the area with my fingers.
I used all of the different prescribed creams and they didn't heal the fissure. I had an incredible itchy rear end that kept me up all night. I had a terrible rash around the outside of my anus.
One night I started using virgin Coconut oil and the itching immediately disappeared. You can purchase it at any health food store or grocery store. Costco even has it.
It is a very mild solid that immediately melts in your hands. It does not sting or burn. You can even eat it. It does not stain clothing.
The coconut oil actually healed my anal fissure. My skin tag is still there and I hope to have it removed some day soon. As when you have a bowel movement out in public you can't have a sitz bath.
You can use coconut oil on cold sores, diaper rash, dry skin, itchy skin, wrinkles, acne, etc.
It really works.

In the Vancouver BC Canada area GOOGLE - "PEZIM CLINIC" and "CLEATOR CLINIC"

I had hemorrhoids removed and a skin tag removed. That was 8 weeks ago. The site of the skin tag removal still hurts and is very tender. I consented to anything that was necessary while having EAU. I would not have the skin tag removed if I had to do it over. I've developed a fissure from the surgery around where the skin tag was. It was a nuisance to keep the area clean but I would take that over the post op recovery and now the possibility of LIS because of a fissure that resulted from all this and won't heal! I ordered a little portable bottle called cleanse and carry. It makes clean up so much easier. Look it up. Whatever you decide I pray for your healing. My butt has tortured me for almost 10 months. Good Luck!

I have had the exact same problem as Badd825. I have had to endure my AF as a result of hem banding and skin tag removal. My crs said that the skin was thinner after the tags were removed and so the skin just split from the act of having a bm. I have no doubt that i would never recomend it to anyone. its the worst decision i have ever made. i wish you luck in your decision. x

My doctor removed my skin tag because she said she needed to have it tested. I was nervous - she did it in the office. I was worried about it healing but it healed very easily and I had a much better time healing my fissure. I really think my fissure wasn't healing properly because my tag would get inflamed. I have since healed using nitroglycerin and am nearly 100%. I recently had a random bout of constipation which caused a bit of spasms but no blood. I hope you find a doctor you trust and you get relief.

Two years ago, two cancerous growths appeared on my face (nose); one of them was growing very slow the other one faster. Then in less then a year another one appeared on my face as well - on the side of my nose very close to my eye. I searched a lot and read that there have been reports that Hydrogen Peroxide cured mole and skin tags.
Below is my method:
I took a cotton swab and soaked it in Hydrogen Peroxide and kept rubbing the cancerous growth with the Hydrogen Peroxide soaked cotton swab until the growth was soaked in the Hydrogen Peroxide and was white. It stung badly, but I just want to remove them so I have to go through that stung. After the soaking of the growths I applied cotton soaked in Hydrogen Peroxide on them.
Result: the soaked cancerous growth after a while formed as crust much like what happens with a normal sore. I see no scars. it flattened it out like it was never there... in a week!
Hope my methods help you!
"Vannoy"
NOTE: when soaking the skin with Hydrogen Peroxide (or vinegar, etc) make sure you don't do it to the healthy skin, because even though it is more resistant to getting white and soaked with the Hydrogen Peroxide, it will also get white after a while. If healthy tissue gets white like that, let it air out until it regains its normal color. So do the soaking to the unhealthy tissue only or as close as you can get. After soaking and making it white apply soaked in Hydrogen Peroxide cotton ball on the growth and when the cotton gets dry, wet it with more Hydrogen Peroxide.