Key takeaways:
Skin tags are non-cancerous 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 side effects.
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.
Skin tags are soft growths that hang on a thin piece of tissue called a stalk. They’re usually pretty small — about 2 to 5 mm — but can grow to several centimeters. They’re made of loose collagen tissue and blood vessels (parts of normal skin). Skin tags can be skin-colored or darker. Some people have just one skin tag while others can have dozens or more.
People of any age can get skin tags, but they are 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
We’re not entirely sure what causes skin tags. There are some theories about why they develop, such as:
From skin friction or rubbing
As 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 them
Being pregnant
Having higher levels of blood sugar (glucose), which can be associated with prediabetes or diabetes
Having overweight or obesity
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 be checked out by your 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. People may choose to remove them for cosmetic reasons, because they cause discomfort, or they get caught on clothes or jewelry. It’s best to see your provider to remove skin tags.
Here are common ways your healthcare provider may remove skin tags:
Cutting, which uses surgical scissors or a blade to cut skin tags off
Freezing (called cryotherapy), which uses liquid nitrogen spray to freeze them
Burning, which uses an electric current passed through a wire to burn them off
Many different at-home skin tag removal products are available, but they may not be effective and can have side effects. In general, providers don’t recommend that you remove skin tags yourself. Some risks of at-home removal include:
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 accidently gets pulled off, it’s usually not a problem. If it bleeds, apply firm pressure for a few minutes until the bleeding stops. Look for signs of infection as it heals, including pain that lasts, spreading redness, or any drainage. If this happens, see your provider.
Skin tags are common, non-cancerous 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 skin tags is to visit your healthcare provider. At-home treatments don’t always work and can cause problems like a skin infection.
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.). 5 reasons to see a dermatologist for mole, skin tag removal.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Moles: Overview.
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.
Cancer.Net. (2020). Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.
National Health Service. (2019). Skin tags.
Pandey, A., et al. (2021). Skin tags. StatPearls.
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