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What are skin tags and what causes skin tags? Those are two very common questions which I will answer in this article, and you’ll also learn if they are dangerous, preventable and if skin tag removal is possible.
Skin tags are small, typically painless growths that can appear on various parts of your body.
Known by a variety of terms including acrochordon, soft fibroma, and cutaneous papilloma, these flaps of tissue are prone to grow in places where your skin forms creases, like on your neck, groin, chest, back and armpits. They can also appear on your face, most commonly on your eyelids.
In their initial stages, skin tags often appear as soft, tiny, flesh-colored bumps. Over time, they become more pronounced pliable growths with irregular or smooth surfaces.
Once they stop developing, they are usually about the size of a grain of rice, and often appear darker than the surrounding skin. Unless they are removed, skin tags will remain attached to your body by a flexible piece of tissue known as a stalk or peduncle.
What causes skin tags and why?
Skin tags are extremely common, and are reported to appear in an estimated 45% of the population. They are believed to be caused when areas of skin rub against each other for long periods of time.
The growths can also be irritated by regular contact with jewelry, like a necklace or watch, or clothing, such as a bra or other undergarments.
Because they are found most often in the folds or creases of excess skin, people who are obese, pregnant or have diabetes are more likely to have skin tags.
In addition, skin tags seem to emerge more with age, particularly if you’re over 60. For reasons that are unknown, they also seem to appear more in women than in men.
Are they dangerous/cancerous?
Although potentially embarrassing, skin tags are not cancerous. Your doctor can help confirm whether a growth is a harmless tag, but you can also easily identify them by their small size, general painlessness and flexibility—you can often wiggle them with your finger.
Can they be treated or prevented?
When it comes to treating skin tags, you have a few options. Since they are not dangerous, you can let them remain on your face or body without experiencing any serious physical consequences.
If you decide to have a skin tag removed, a dermatologist or other specialist can perform the following:
- removal with scissors or a scalpel
- freezing the growth, and removing it, known as cryotherapy
- burning the tag using an electric current—a technique known as electrosurgery.
While there is no single method to prevent skin tags, there are things you can do to reduce your chances of developing them.
One of the most important is to maintain a healthy weight, especially since the growths are found frequently in the excess skin folds and creases that can result if you’re obese.
A diet high in fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, combined with regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy and keep your weight where you want it!
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