Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are common, harmless growths that appear on the surface of the skin. They are non-cancerous, soft, and typically skin-colored or slightly darker, often hanging from the body by a small, fleshy stalk called a peduncle. These growths are found most frequently in areas where skin folds occur or where there is consistent rubbing, such as the neck, armpits, eyelids, groin, and underneath the breasts. Many people seek removal due to cosmetic concerns or physical irritation when the tags catch on jewelry or clothing.
Understanding How Skin Tags Develop
The formation of acrochordons is closely linked to several underlying biological and mechanical factors. The most immediate cause is chronic friction, which occurs when skin rubs against skin or against clothing over a prolonged period. This constant irritation in skin folds stimulates an overgrowth of skin cells and collagen fibers, creating the characteristic structure of the tag.
Conditions involving insulin resistance, such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes, often correlate with a higher incidence of these growths. Elevated levels of insulin (hyperinsulinemia) can act as a growth factor that encourages the proliferation of skin cells and fibroblasts.
Genetic predisposition also plays a role. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly during pregnancy, can temporarily increase the likelihood of new tags forming due to higher levels of growth factors and potential transient insulin resistance. These factors explain why a person may develop new growths even after existing ones have been removed.
Professional Removal Techniques
When removal is desired, dermatologists and medical professionals use precise techniques to eliminate the entire growth. One common method is cryotherapy, which involves applying extremely cold liquid nitrogen directly to the skin tag tissue. The intense cold destroys the cells by freezing them, causing the tag to shrivel, scab, and eventually fall off within ten days.
Another technique is surgical excision, where the skin tag is snipped off at its base using sterile surgical scissors or a scalpel after the area has been numbed with a local anesthetic. This method offers immediate removal and is often preferred for larger lesions or those with a broader base. The wound created by excision is typically small and heals quickly with minimal scarring.
Electrosurgery, or cauterization, utilizes a heated electrical current to burn the growth off and seal the blood vessels simultaneously. This process is highly precise, resulting in minimal bleeding and effectively destroying the tissue down to the root.
Does the Same Skin Tag Grow Back?
Once a skin tag has been completely and correctly removed, that specific growth will not regrow in the exact spot. The removal process targets the fibrovascular core and the epithelial tissue that makes up the tag, effectively eliminating the lesion entirely.
The common perception of skin tags “growing back” is actually the formation of new growths in the same general area or other friction-prone regions. The underlying conditions that made the skin susceptible to the original tag, such as persistent friction, genetics, or systemic insulin resistance, remain unchanged. A new skin tag can form right next to the previous removal site if the local environment continues to stimulate cell proliferation.
The recurrence is not a failure of the removal itself, but rather a continuation of the individual’s predisposition to the condition. Addressing the underlying factors, such as managing weight or monitoring metabolic health, can help reduce the rate at which new tags develop over time.
Dangers of Attempting At-Home Removal
The temptation to remove a skin tag at home using non-sterile or improper tools carries significant health risks. Attempting to cut off a tag with scissors or nail clippers, for example, can lead to excessive bleeding because skin tags contain blood vessels, particularly in their stalk. Furthermore, the use of unsterilized instruments dramatically increases the risk of a serious localized skin infection.
Another major danger of self-removal is the potential for misdiagnosis. What appears to be a harmless skin tag could actually be a different, more concerning type of growth, such as a mole, a wart, or even a form of skin cancer like nodular melanoma. Removing or irritating a malignant lesion without proper medical evaluation delays diagnosis and potentially allows a serious condition to progress.
Methods like tying off a tag with string (ligation) or applying over-the-counter chemical solutions can also result in unnecessary scarring or damage to the surrounding healthy skin. Incomplete removal through these amateur methods may leave behind irritated tissue that becomes inflamed. For safety and the best cosmetic outcome, any growth should be evaluated and removed by a medical professional.