What are skin tags?

​

Skin tags are harmless and often removed for cosmetic reasons.

Skin tags are benign, noncancerous, tumors of the skin. They consist of a core of fibers and ducts, nerve cells, fat cells, and a covering or epidermis.

 

Skin tags are very common and generally occur after midlife. They affect men and women equally.

​

Facts on skin tags

• Skin tags are benign tumors of the skin.

• They commonly occur in creases or folds of the skin.

• They are not dangerous, but they can be removed for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons.

• Methods of skin tag removal include over the counter (OTC) therapies, excision, and cryotherapy.

​

They may appear on the:

 

• Eyelids

• Armpits

• Under the breasts

• Groin

• Upper chest

• Neck

​

They often go unnoticed, unless they are in a prominent place or are repeatedly rubbed or scratched, for example, by clothing, jewelry, or when shaving.

Some people may have skin tags and never notice them. In some cases, they rub off or fall off painlessly. Very large skin tags may burst under pressure.

​

The surface of skin tags may be smooth or irregular in appearance. They are often raised from the surface of the skin on fleshy peduncles, or stalks. They are usually flesh-colored or slightly brownish.

Skin tags start small, flattened like a pinhead bump. Some stay small, and some grow bigger. They can range in diameter from 2 millimeters (mm) to 1 centimeter (cm), and some may reach 5cm.

As skin tags are usually harmless, removal is normally for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons.

Large skin tags, especially in areas where they may rub against something, such as clothing, jewelry or skin, may be removed due to irritation.

Removing a large skin tag from the face or under the arms can make shaving easier.

​

Treatment

​

Cauterization: The skin tag is burned off using electrolysis

​

Skin tags appear to be more common in:

​

• People who are overweight and obese

• Those with diabetes

• Women during pregnancy, possibly due to hormonal changes and high levels of growth factors

• Those with some types of human papilloma virus (HPV)

• People with a sex-steroid imbalance, especially if there are changes in levels of estrogen and progesterone

• Those whose close family members also have skin tags

• Studies have found that skin tags are more likely to occur with: