Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are common, soft, and benign growths that frequently appear on the skin. They represent a simple overgrowth of the top layers of skin and are noncancerous and generally harmless. Nearly half of all adults develop at least one skin tag during their lifetime. While typically painless, people often seek removal if the tags become irritated or for cosmetic reasons.
Defining the Physical Appearance
Skin tags are characterized by a distinct soft, fleshy appearance, often looking like a small balloon on a stick. Their most defining structural feature is the peduncle, a thin stalk that connects the growth to the surrounding skin surface, allowing the tag to hang freely. The surface of the growth can be smooth, but it is often wrinkled or slightly bumpy, sometimes resembling a tiny piece of cauliflower.
The color of a skin tag typically matches the person’s natural skin tone, though they can also be slightly darker, pigmented, or brownish. Most skin tags are quite small, generally measuring between 2 to 5 millimeters, about the size of a pinhead to a small pencil eraser. Some can grow larger, occasionally reaching the size of a grape or several centimeters in diameter. When touched, they are soft, pliable, and easily movable, distinguishing them from other, firmer skin lesions.
Typical Growth Locations and Causes
Skin tags develop most frequently in areas of the body where skin folds, or where skin repeatedly rubs against itself, clothing, or jewelry. Common locations include the creases of the neck, the armpits, the groin folds, and under the breasts. They can also appear on the eyelids and occasionally on the torso or back.
The primary factor driving their formation is prolonged friction or chaffing, which triggers an excess production of cells in the skin’s outer layers. Several internal factors also increase the likelihood of developing these growths. Skin tags become more common after the age of 40, and genetics can predispose some people to them. A strong correlation exists with metabolic factors, including obesity and conditions linked to insulin resistance, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Identifying When a Growth is Not a Skin Tag
While skin tags are benign, it is important to distinguish them from other skin lesions that may require medical attention. Unlike skin tags, warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and typically have a rough, grainy surface texture without a stalk. Warts are also generally firmer to the touch and often appear on the hands, knees, or feet.
Moles, or nevi, are usually darker brown because they contain pigment-producing cells, and they are generally firmer and more uniformly colored than soft skin tags. Moles are typically symmetrical and lack the distinctive hanging stalk. Any growth that exhibits rapid growth, bleeds spontaneously, causes pain, or shows highly unusual color variation or asymmetry should be examined by a dermatologist immediately. Such changes may indicate a more serious condition, such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.
Professional Removal Methods
Removal of a skin tag is usually an elective procedure performed for cosmetic reasons or if the tag is frequently irritated by clothing or shaving. Attempting to remove skin tags at home is not recommended due to the risks of bleeding, infection, and scarring. Dermatologists offer safe and effective professional removal methods.
One common technique is cryotherapy, which involves applying liquid nitrogen to the skin tag to freeze and destroy the tissue. The frozen tag dries up and naturally falls off within several days. Another method is excision, where the healthcare provider snips the growth at its base using sterile surgical scissors or a scalpel, often used for larger lesions. Finally, cauterization, or electrocautery, uses heat generated by an electrical current to burn off the skin tag and seal the blood vessels, minimizing bleeding.