Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are common, benign skin growths that affect a large percentage of the adult population. They are small, soft pieces of tissue that hang off the skin by a tiny stalk, typically appearing in areas where the skin folds or experiences friction. While completely harmless, their appearance often leads people to seek removal, which raises the question of whether these growths will return. Understanding the answer requires examining their biological causes and the mechanics of their removal.
The Underlying Causes of Skin Tag Formation
Skin tags are formed by a combination of mechanical irritation and systemic factors. The most widely accepted mechanical trigger is chronic friction, where skin repeatedly rubs against skin, clothing, or jewelry. This constant irritation leads to the overgrowth of skin cells, specifically keratinocytes and fibroblasts, which ultimately form the characteristic stalk and bulb structure of the tag.
Skin tag formation is strongly linked to underlying metabolic conditions. High levels of insulin, which occur in states of insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, act as a growth signal for skin cells. This elevated insulin stimulates the skin’s outer layer and connective tissue to proliferate.
Genetics and hormonal changes also contribute to an individual’s susceptibility. The hormonal shifts during pregnancy can accelerate epidermal cell turnover, which is why many pregnant women develop new skin tags. Obesity is another significant factor, as excess weight naturally creates more skin folds and increases the areas where friction is concentrated.
Proper Techniques for Skin Tag Removal
Professional removal methods are designed to completely eliminate the skin tag and its base, which is the key to preventing a true recurrence. Successful removal depends on completely destroying the base of the growth where the cells originated.
Professional Removal Methods
One common technique is cryotherapy, which involves applying liquid nitrogen to the growth, freezing and destroying the tissue. The frozen tag then darkens and falls off naturally within one to three weeks.
Another effective method is cauterization (electrosurgery), where a heated probe is used to burn and destroy the tissue at the tag’s base. Simple excision uses sterile surgical scissors or a scalpel to snip the tag at its stalk, providing immediate removal, often for larger growths.
For all these procedures, the area is often numbed with a local anesthetic. Attempting at-home removal is discouraged because it carries a high risk of incomplete removal, infection, bleeding, and permanent scarring.
Distinguishing Recurrence from New Growth
The definitive answer to whether a skin tag grows back is that it does not, provided the removal was complete. A skin tag that has been entirely destroyed at its base cannot physically regenerate at that exact point. The tissue that made up the original growth is gone, and the skin heals over the site.
What people often perceive as a skin tag “growing back” is actually the formation of a brand new lesion nearby. The underlying reasons that caused the first growth—such as persistent skin friction or the systemic issue of insulin resistance—are still present in that area. Because the conditions that promote skin cell overgrowth remain unchanged, the skin in the same general region is prone to developing new tags.
The appearance of multiple new tags often serves as an indicator of an ongoing, unaddressed metabolic issue, such as poorly managed blood sugar or persistent skin-on-skin rubbing. Identifying this difference shifts the focus from the effectiveness of the removal to the importance of managing the root causes.
Managing Risk Factors to Limit Future Tags
Limiting the formation of new skin tags requires addressing the mechanical and metabolic factors that drive their development.
Reducing Friction
A primary strategy involves reducing skin friction in areas prone to tags, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. This is achieved by choosing loose-fitting clothing and avoiding jewelry that constantly rubs against the skin.
Improving Metabolic Health
Systemic health changes are highly effective in reducing the likelihood of new growths. Since insulin resistance is a major contributor, improving metabolic health is a preventative measure. Maintaining a healthy body weight and adopting a diet that manages blood sugar levels can lower the growth signals that stimulate skin cell proliferation.
Regular skin checks are also beneficial. By implementing these lifestyle adjustments, individuals can mitigate the environment that favors skin tag formation, focusing on prevention rather than simply repeated removal.