Basics
Skin tags are small, flesh-colored lumps loosely attached to the skin's surface and are usually harmless. Doctors will remove skin tags and send samples to a laboratory for cancer testing. Skin tags are rarely bigger than 1/2-inch and are more common in overweight or diabetic people. These painless growths appear on the neck, folds of the arms and armpits, but become uncomfortable when clothing rubs against them .
Irritations
The New Zealand Dermatological Society reports that there is no known cause for skin tags, which also are referred to as soft fibromas or fibroepithelial polyps. These excess pieces of skin are more common in men and women as they age. Irritation and chafing from skin rubbing against skin or clothing is a typical cause. Skin tags from irritations are found in the groin area and underneath the breasts, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Other causes
Diabetics often have excess skin resulting from the body's resistance to insulin production and utilization. Excess growth factors that are commonly found in pregnant women and people with acromegaly (gigantism) may also play a role in the development of skin tags.
Secondary causes
Multiple skin tags can be caused by underlying conditions and should be examined by a dermatologist or physician. Moles and warts are often mistaken for skin tags. Malignant skin cancer must also be considered when determining the origin of skin tags. The Mayo Clinic states that multiple skin tags can signal hormonal or endocrine conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Skin tags also grow from the skin that remains after removing a wart or acne.
Virus
In a 2008 issue of The Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, a study lead by Dr. Sachin Gupta found that human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with the development of skin tags. Benign lesions, such as skin tags, were linked to side effects of HPV, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that does not cause health problems in most people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 40 strains of HPV, 90 percent of which are healed naturally by the body's immune system. Skin tags and genital warts are common, benign side effects of the virus.
