Causes and Treatments of Skin Tags
Have you ever noticed small, soft pieces of skin dangling from areas such as your neck, underarms, eyelids, chest, or groin? Or perhaps you have seen tiny fleshy bumps protruding from the skin surface that seem to appear gradually over time?
These growths may be skin tags, a common and usually harmless skin condition that many people experience. Skin tags are typically soft, flesh-coloured or slightly darker growths that hang from the skin by a small stalk. While they are generally not painful or dangerous, they can become bothersome if they catch on clothing, jewellery, or during shaving. Some people may also choose to remove them for cosmetic reasons, especially when they appear on visible areas such as the face or neck.
Skin tags can develop in both men and women, and they are often found in areas where the skin folds or experiences repeated friction. Although they are usually benign, it is still advisable to have any new, changing, bleeding, painful, or unusual-looking skin growth assessed by a doctor to ensure an accurate diagnosis before considering removal.
What are skin tags and why do I have them?
A skin tag is a small and soft skin growth that is connected to the skin by a small and firm stalk called a peduncle. Its medical name is also known as an acrochordon. Skin tags can be skin coloured or darker, they can be smooth and round, or have a wrinkly or uneven surface, and usually range in size from 1mm to 5cm. They are most often found in body areas where the skin rubs against itself, such as neck, armpits, groin, under the breasts, in the genital region and folds of the buttocks, or even the eyelids.
A skin tag may appear as a tiny soft bump on the skin at first. Over time, it grows into a flesh-colored piece of skin attached to the skin surface by a stalk. It’s easy to wiggle a skin tag back and forth. A skin tag is painless, although it can become irritated if it is rubbed a lot, such as in an area where clothing or jewelry rubs against them. If a skin tag is twisted on its stalk, a blood clot can develop within it and the skin tag may become painful.
Is there a group of people more susceptible to getting them?
Skin tags can occur in almost anyone, but certain groups of people may be more prone to developing them. They are commonly seen in adults and tend to become more frequent with age. People who have a family history of skin tags may also be more likely to develop them.
Skin tags are also more common in areas where there is repeated skin friction, such as the neck, underarms, groin, eyelids, and under the breasts. This is why individuals who experience more skin folds or frequent rubbing in these areas may notice them more often.
They may also be more commonly associated with pregnancy, hormonal changes, weight gain, insulin resistance, and certain metabolic conditions. However, having skin tags does not necessarily mean that there is an underlying medical problem.
Can I just pull them off on my own?
It is not advisable to pull, cut, or twist skin tags off on your own. Although skin tags are usually harmless, removing them at home can lead to bleeding, pain, infection, scarring, or incomplete removal. The area may also become irritated or inflamed, especially if the skin tag is located on sensitive areas such as the eyelids, neck, underarms, or groin.
Another important reason to avoid self-removal is that not every skin growth is a skin tag. Some moles, warts, or other skin lesions may look similar but require proper medical assessment. Attempting to remove an undiagnosed growth at home may delay the diagnosis of a more concerning skin condition.
If a skin tag is bothering you, catching on clothing or jewellery, bleeding, or affecting your confidence, it is safer to have it assessed and removed by a doctor using appropriate medical techniques. This helps reduce the risk of complications and ensures that the growth is properly identified before removal.
What are some treatments available to remove skin tags?
Skin tags can be removed using several medical techniques, depending on their size, location, number, and appearance. Before removal, it is important for a doctor to assess the growth to confirm that it is a skin tag and not another type of skin lesion such as a mole, wart, or other skin condition.
Common skin tag removal methods include CO2 laser removal, electrocautery, cryotherapy, and surgical snipping or excision. A convenient option is CO2 laser removal, which uses focused laser energy to remove skin tags with precision while minimising unnecessary impact on the surrounding skin. As the treatment is targeted, it is generally associated with low downtime, although mild redness, scabbing, or temporary sensitivity may occur as the area heals.
Electrocautery uses controlled heat to remove the growth and seal small blood vessels at the same time, while cryotherapy involves freezing the skin tag, causing it to fall off gradually. For larger or more prominent skin tags, a doctor may recommend removing them with sterile medical instruments.
The most suitable method depends on factors such as the treatment area, size of the skin tag, skin type, healing response, and risk of scarring or pigmentation changes. Your doctor will advise on the most appropriate removal method and provide aftercare instructions based on your individual condition.
