Fleshy skin tags aren't usually a sign of a serious medical problem. Because they protrude from your skin, however, they can become irritated. Also called acrochordons, skin tags appear in 25 percent of people and increase with age, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. If your skin tag is chronically irritated, your doctor may recommend removing it.
Identification
Skin tags are fleshy growths connected to a short stalk that extends from the skin's surface. Some skin tags don't contain a stalk and are attached directly to the skin. Tags may look the same color as your skin or may appear slightly darker. Skin tags are often found in the armpits, neck, trunk and groin area. Medline Plus reports that skin tags are thought to occur from skin rubbing against skin and are commonly form in skin folds. Having diabetes can increase your risk of developing skin tags.
Symptoms
Skin tags may become irritated if your clothes rub against them. An irritated skin tag may look pink or red and may feel slightly sore. Wearing tight clothing can make the problem worse.
Treatment
If your skin tag is chronically irritated, your doctor can remove the growth during a short office procedure. Skin tags can be snipped off with surgical scissors, frozen or burned off. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that local anesthesia usually is not necessary. If your skin tag is particularly large, your doctor may apply a numbing cream to the area before removing the tag. After skin tag removal, your doctor may place a small bandage on your skin to protect the area from infection.
Warning
While it can be tempting to remove skin tags yourself, home removal is not recommended. Teen Health from Nemours reports that skin tags have blood vessels and will bleed if cut. If proper precautions aren't taken to ensure that scissors or other equipment are sterile, an infection could occur after home removal.
Considerations
If you have Crohn's disease and develop skin tags around your anus, it may not be a good idea to remove the tags. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America warns that surgical removal of skin tags should be avoided because of the risk of damaging or scarring the anal sphincter or the anal canal. Skin tags are common if you have Crohn's disease. The tags form around hemorrhoids and inside and outside the anus.
