An association of human papillomaviruses low risk and high risk subtypes with skin tag.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are related to the genesis of various benign lesions and some malignant tumors, but no clear relationship has been identified so far between the subtypes of HPV and skin tag. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present case-control study was designed to detect the existence of low risk and high risk HPV types in lesions of 50 patients with skin tag (case group) and normal skin around the melanocytic nevus of 30 patients (control group), using PCR. RESULTS: All of the samples were negative for HPV subtypes, except two samples in control group which were positive for high risk HPV. There was no significant relationship between the HPV subtypes and skin tag. CONCLUSION: There is no association between skin tag and low risk and high risk human papillomaviruses.