Skin tags are common, benign growths that protrude from the skin. If you have a tendency to develop skin tags, you may notice that they tend to develop in the folds of skin. The growths commonly appear on the neck, eyelids, armpits, torso, under the breasts or in the genital region. Although skin tags can be unsightly, they do not usually cause problems or complications.
Characteristics
Skin tags are typically small, but some may reach a half-inch long, according to the National Institutes of Health. They are commonly connected to the skin by a narrow stalk, and they are usually the same color as your skin, or slightly darker. Skin tags do not normally cause pain, but tags located in skin folds may become irritated from friction, and those in other areas may become uncomfortable after being rubbed by clothing. Once a skin tag develops, it is permanent unless you have it removed.
Causes
According to the National Institutes of Health, skin tags seem to develop when skin rubs against other areas of skin. They are most common in overweight people, people over 60 and those with diabetes. Some people may inherit the tendency to develop skin tags.
Treatment
Skin tags do not require treatment, but you may choose to have them removed if you find them unsightly. A doctor can typically cut, freeze or burn off the growths quickly during an office visit.
Considerations
You may see home remedies touted as effective treatments for skin tags. Common home removal methods include tying the tag off with string until it falls off, applying acids or simply cutting the growth with scissors. In the Mayo Clinic's Medical Edge newspaper column, Dr. Katherine Lim advises against home removal of skin tags. Such treatments can be painful, damage surrounding tissue and result in scarring or infection, she warns.
Warning
Normal skin tags are not dangerous, but you should have suspicious growths checked by a doctor to rule out skin cancer. If a growth is hard, multicolored, a different color than surrounding skin, raw or bleeding, see your doctor.
