While skin tags and warts are widespread among the general population, the seemingly harmless conditions might signal deeper health concerns.
A doctor has warned that the skin growths might actually be a sign of an underlying issue; insulin resistance and low vitamin D levels.
Dr Eric Berg DC, a specialist in healthy ketosis and intermittent fasting, shared his insights about the root causes of skin conditions on YouTube, suggesting they deserve more attention than typically given.
The expert noted that skin tags could be linked to insulin resistance, adding: “What’s creating the [insulin resistance] is consuming too many carbs or eating too frequently.”
Dr Berg noted that consuming too many carbohydrates can result in skin tags
GETTY / YOUTUBE
To address the issue, Dr Berg proposed a straightforward solution, noting that the metabolic imbalance can effectively be managed through dietary modifications.
He said: “A very simple solution to this is to give your body an alternative fuel source. Give the body ketones, fatty acids and proteins.”
On the other hand, Dr Berg highlighted a significant connection between warts and vitamin D deficiency.
Last year, the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology documented a link between low serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and patients with genital warts.
However, similar findings have been observed with cutaneous warts, despite vitamin D levels appearing not to influence the severity of warts or their treatment resistance.
In addition, Dr Berg highlighted a seasonal pattern in the relationship between warts and vitamin D deficiency.
“It’s interesting because a lot more people get vitamin D deficiencies during the winter months than the summer months,” he noted.
While this connection suggests vitamin D levels may potentially play a crucial role in wart development, more evidence is needed.
Dietary changes can help to address conditions like warts and skin tags
GETTY
“Lower your carbohydrates and eat less frequently,” Dr Berg advised, noting that these modifications can have benefits beyond skin health.
“[They will] not just help you lose weight, but will help with things like PCOS, diabetes and normalise insulin,” he said.
Although skin tags have been recognised as manifestations of insulin resistance, they have various other causes.
The NHS noted: “The cause of skin tags is not always known, but they are sometimes caused by skin rubbing against skin.”
