All You Need to Know About Skin Tags

None of us appreciate rough spots or bumps on our skin. Not only are they cosmetically frustrating and sometimes embarrassing, it can be hard to tell if they are dangerous. One common condition is skin tags. A pretty simple growth that many experience, here are some facts that will help you understand your skin tags.

What Is a Skin Tag?

Skin tags are small pieces of skin that hang from a peduncle or stalk. They can form anywhere on the body, especially where the skin is creased and continuously rubbed. A very common skin condition, these “acrochordons” appear on women and men equally and usually after midlife.

Skin tags are a form of benign tumors that come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. They are not dangerous and are usually only removed for cosmetic purposes.

Made up of a core of fibers, ducts, nerve and fat cells, a skin tag has an exterior covering of epidermis. They tend to appear on or under:

  • eyelids
  • armpits
  • breasts
  • groin
  • neck
  • upper chest area

Usually small in size, you may never even notice that you have a skin tag and some fall off on their own.

Known Causes

There are a few theories based on what dermatologists and doctors often see in their patients.

  1. Skin tags may be caused by clusters of collagen and blood vessels becoming trapped inside thicker pieces of skin. The basic skin tag is composed of these clusters and sometimes grow dark in color due to a lack of circulation.
  2. Because of their common location in tight or chaffed spots, the causation is most likely due in some part to constant rubbing of the skin.
  3. Since some families seem to have a higher occurrence of acrochordon, it is possible skin tags are hereditary to some degree.
  4. Finally, some doctors hypothesize that skin tags are associated with hyperinsulinemia in some way. Those with too much insulin tend to develop a higher number of skin tags than those with healthy levels.

Risk Factors

Skin tags do appear to be more common in certain people. If you have any of the below conditions, you may experience a larger number of skin tags than those around you. These conditions include:

  • being overweight
  • diabetes
  • pregnancy
  • certain types of papilloma virus (HPV)
  • sex-steriod imbalance
  • having family members with numerous tags themselves
  • hypertension
  • dyslipidemia

If you suddenly develop a large number of skin tags, make an appointment with your doctor. You may just have a hereditary situation or something a little more serious.

Treatment Options

Skin tags aren’t dangerous and do not need to be removed. However, sometimes they cause irritation where they are constantly rubbed. Depending on the location, a skin tag can also be a cosmetic nuisance. There are several ways a skin tag can be removed:

  • Cauterization - burned off with electrolysis
  • Cryosurgery - frozen off with liquid nitrogen
  • Ligation - interrupt the blood supply
  • Excision - cut off with scalpel or scissors

Always talk with your dermatologist if a skin tag causes physical or psychological discomfort. They will examine the tag and lay out your removal options. For example, if the skin tag is on the eyelid, you may need to have it removed by an ophthalmologist. We do not recommend removing a skin tag by yourself. Home removal can result in excess bleeding or infection.

Over-the-counter solutions are available. These are similar to medications used for wart removal. Always talk to your dermatologist before trying any medications as well. A few natural, topical options include tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice. There is, however, no scientific evidence that natural remedies work. Though a skin tag can regrow after removal, there is no evidence that removal results in more skin tags.

Skin tags are a pretty common condition that affects thousands of people. Talk to your dermatologist if yours are causing discomfort in any way or if they have a strange color or shape. Sometimes a cancerous wart or mole can resemble a skin tag. Always involve a doctor if any skin growth bleeds, itches, or changes color. If you have any skin concerns, contact our office today to set up an appointment. Our team is here for you and we are always ready to answer your questions.