Key takeaways:
Skin tags are noncancerous skin growths that are common in adults.
People may choose to remove skin tags for cosmetic reasons or because they cause symptoms.
At-home treatments for skin tags aren’t recommended and can lead to complications, such as infection.
As dermatologists, one of the most common things we’re asked about is skin tags. People ask questions like: What are they? Why do I get them? How do I get rid of them?
Skin tags — also called acrochordons — are common, non-cancerous skin growths. Here, we’ll review everything you need to know about skin tags, including what may cause them, how they can be removed, and if you should treat them at home.
Acrochordons is the medical term for “skin tags.” These are soft growths that hang on a thin piece of tissue called a stalk. They’re usually pretty small — about 2 mm to 5 mm, or the size of a crayon tip or pencil eraser. But they can grow to several centimeters.
Skin tags are made of loose collagen tissue and blood vessels (parts of normal skin). They can be the color of your skin or look darker. Some people get one skin tag while others can have dozens or more.
People of any age can get skin tags, but they’re much more common in adults. In fact, almost half of adults will have one at some point in their life.
Skin tags can happen anywhere on your body. But they’re most common in skin folds, often in areas such as the:
Armpits
Neck
Groin folds
Inner thighs
Eye area
Genitals
Area under your breasts
Here are some pictures to show what skin tags look like.
Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes skin tags. There are some theories about why they develop, such as:
Skin friction or rubbing
Part of the normal aging process
Associated with insulin resistance
From human papillomavirus virus (HPV), which is the same virus family that causes warts
Some factors may increase your risk of getting skin tags. Examples include:
Having family members with skin tags
Being pregnant
Having higher levels of blood sugar (glucose), which can be associated with prediabetes or diabetes
Having a higher body mass index (BMI)
Having other signs of metabolic syndrome (like high cholesterol)
Having a rare genetic condition (like Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome)
In general, skin tags are harmless and nothing to worry about. They aren’t usually associated with any health problems. But there are some situations when you may want to visit a dermatologist or your primary care provider. These include:
If a skin tag changes in size or color quickly
If it bleeds, hurts, or bothers you in any other way
If you’re not sure it’s a skin tag (other skin growths, like moles, can look similar)
Skin tags generally don’t need to be removed. But sometimes people choose to remove them. This can be due to:
Cosmetic reasons (appearance)
Discomfort or irritation
Inconvenience or disturbance (skin tags can get caught on clothes or jewelry)
What does skin cancer look like? Learn about different types of skin cancer and what to look for.
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Remember that it’s best to see a healthcare professional if you’d like to have a skin tag removed. Here are common ways they may remove skin tags:
Cutting: This uses surgical scissors or a blade to cut off a skin tag. A healthcare professional will likely numb the area before snipping.
Cryotherapy (freezing): To freeze a skin tag, a healthcare professional uses liquid nitrogen spray to freeze it.
Burning: A healthcare professional uses an electric current that passes through a wire to burn off a skin tag.
When a dermatologist or other healthcare professional removes a skin tag, the procedure is usually fairly quick and painless.
There are many different at-home skin tag removal products. But they may not be effective, and they can have side effects. In general, healthcare professionals don’t recommend that you remove skin tags yourself.
Here are some risks of trying to remove a skin tag at-home:
Bleeding
Getting a skin infection
Scarring
Damaging healthy skin
Removing something other than a skin tag
Not removing the whole thing
If a skin tag accidentally gets pulled off, it’s usually not a problem. If there’s bleeding, apply firm pressure for a few minutes until the bleeding stops.
As the area heals, look for signs of infection, including:
Pain that lasts or worsens
Spreading redness
Warmth
Drainage or pus
If you notice any of these signs, get medical attention as soon as possible.
Skin tags are more common during pregnancy, but experts aren’t completely sure why. One reason is likely related to weight gain during pregnancy. Skin tags form in places that skin rubs against itself. Hormonal changes may also play a role.
Usually skin tags don’t cause symptoms. But a skin tag can get irritated if it’s in a spot that gets very sweaty or rubbed a lot. If you accidentally scratch or bump a skin tag, it may bleed a bit. Make sure to visit a healthcare professional if your skin tag quickly changes in size or color or continues to bleed.
Skin tags are common, noncancerous skin growths. People may choose to remove them for cosmetic reasons or because they get caught in clothing or jewelry. The best way to remove a skin tag is to visit your dermatologist or another healthcare professional. At-home treatments don’t always work and can cause problems like a skin infection.
Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com)
Akpinar, F., et al. (2012). Association between acrochordons and the components of metabolic syndrome. European Journal of Dermatology.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Moles: Overview.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2022). 5 reasons to see a dermatologist for mole, skin tag removal.
American Cancer Society. (2024). Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD).
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. (n.d.). Cryosurgery (cryotherapy).
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. (n.d.). Skin tags.
Banik, R., et al. (1987). Skin tags: Localization and frequencies according to sex and age. Dermatologica.
Bustan, R. S., et al. (2017). Specific skin signs as a cutaneous marker of diabetes mellitus and the prediabetic state – a systematic review. Danish Medical Journal.
National Health Service. (2023). Skin tags.
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