Skin tags are common, small, and generally harmless growths. While typically benign, a new or changing skin growth can raise concerns about something more serious. This article guides distinguishing typical skin tags from those warranting medical attention.
Understanding Skin Tags
Skin tags, also known as acrochordons, are soft, non-cancerous growths that often match skin color or are slightly darker. They typically appear as small pieces of skin hanging by a tiny stalk. Most are between 1 to 5 millimeters, though some can grow larger.
These common growths are often found where skin rubs against itself or clothing, such as the neck, armpits, groin, eyelids, and under the breasts. They usually do not cause pain or discomfort unless irritated by friction.
Key Indicators of Concern
While skin tags are typically harmless, certain changes in a skin growth signal closer examination. Changes in size, shape, or color warrant attention. Rapid growth or significant size increase is unusual for a benign skin tag, which typically stays small. Benign skin tags usually do not grow beyond 5 millimeters, though some can reach 2 centimeters in rare cases.
Uneven pigmentation or multiple colors within a growth (tan, brown, black, red, blue) can be a warning sign. Asymmetry (one half not matching the other) or irregular, notched, or blurred borders are also concerning features.
New symptoms can indicate a potential issue. These include bleeding without cause (not due to irritation). Persistent itching, tenderness, or pain in a previously asymptomatic growth suggests evaluation. Any growth that becomes scaly, crusty, bumpy, or develops an unhealing open sore deviates from a skin tag’s typical smooth, soft texture.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Consult a healthcare professional if any skin growth exhibits the indicators of concern described. Any new or unexplained growth appearing suddenly or growing rapidly should prompt a medical visit. While skin tags are not cancerous, other growths that resemble them can be, making professional assessment crucial.
Seek medical advice if a skin tag becomes painful, inflamed, or irritated without a clear cause, or if it bleeds excessively. These symptoms, even if not cancerous, may require intervention to alleviate discomfort or prevent infection. A dermatologist can examine the lesion and, if necessary, perform a biopsy to analyze the tissue.
Only a medical professional can provide an accurate diagnosis of a skin growth. They can differentiate between a harmless skin tag and a more serious condition, such as skin cancer, ensuring appropriate management. Early detection of concerning skin changes significantly improves treatment outcomes.
Other Growths to Note
Many different types of skin growths exist, and some can be mistaken for skin tags. Moles are common pigmented spots that can be flat or raised. Unlike skin tags, moles can sometimes be precancerous or cancerous, with atypical moles often exhibiting irregular shapes, uneven colors, and larger diameters.
Seborrheic keratoses are another type of benign growth that might be confused with skin tags, appearing as “stuck-on” brown, black, or tan patches with a waxy or scaly surface. Warts are caused by a viral infection and typically have a rough, bumpy texture, differing from the soft feel of a skin tag.