Skin tags are almost always harmless, but they can be meaningful signals about what’s happening inside your body. These small, soft flaps of skin that hang from a thin stalk are among the most common skin growths, and their presence is strongly linked to friction, hormonal shifts, and metabolic health. If you’ve noticed one or several popping up, here’s what they may be telling you.
Why Skin Tags Form
Skin tags develop when extra cells grow in the upper layers of skin. The two main drivers are mechanical irritation and biological signals. Repeated rubbing of skin against skin or clothing is a major trigger, which is why skin tags tend to cluster in areas like the neck, underarms, groin folds, and beneath the breasts. People who carry more body weight are especially prone to them because of increased skin-on-skin contact in these areas.
On the biological side, certain growth factors play a role. Epidermal growth factor and a related protein called alpha tissue growth factor have both been implicated in the formation of skin tags. Think of these as chemical signals that tell skin cells to keep multiplying. When those signals are elevated, whether from hormonal changes, weight gain, or metabolic conditions, skin tags are more likely to appear.
The Link to Insulin Resistance
This is the connection most people don’t expect. A cross-sectional study of nearly 200 participants at a university teaching hospital found that the presence of multiple skin tags was strongly associated with insulin resistance, independent of other risk factors. Insulin resistance is the condition where your cells stop responding efficiently to insulin, forcing your body to produce more of it. That excess insulin can act like a growth signal for skin cells.
A separate survey of 113 patients with skin tags and 31 healthy controls went further, linking skin tags to obesity, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and elevated markers of inflammation. The researchers suggested skin tags may serve as a visible marker of increased cardiovascular risk. In other words, a cluster of skin tags on your neck or underarms could be worth mentioning at your next checkup, especially if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
This doesn’t mean every skin tag signals a metabolic problem. A single skin tag in a spot where your necklace rubs is almost certainly just friction. But if you’re developing many skin tags, particularly in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, it’s reasonable to ask about a basic blood sugar screening.
Hormonal Changes and Pregnancy
Skin tags commonly appear during the second trimester of pregnancy. The likely culprit is the surge in estrogen and progesterone that occurs as pregnancy progresses. A 2010 study found a possible link between elevated estrogen levels and skin tag formation, and pregnant women produce estrogen at levels far higher than normal. These pregnancy-related skin tags often show up on the neck, chest, and under the breasts.
Other hormonal shifts can have the same effect. People with acromegaly, a condition involving excess growth hormone, develop skin tags at higher rates. The pattern is consistent: when the body is flooded with hormones that promote tissue growth, skin tags tend to follow. For many women, skin tags that appeared during pregnancy shrink or become less noticeable after delivery, though they don’t always disappear entirely.
Are Skin Tags Ever Dangerous?
Skin tags themselves are benign. In a study analyzing over 1,200 skin biopsies performed by primary care providers, every single specimen diagnosed as a skin tag came back benign. No malignant cases were found. This is consistent with what dermatologists see in practice: a true skin tag, soft and hanging from a narrow stalk, poses no cancer risk.
The important caveat is making sure what you’re looking at is actually a skin tag and not something else. A few other skin growths can appear in the same areas and look somewhat similar:
- Seborrheic keratoses are waxy, raised bumps that look as if they were dripped onto the skin like candle wax. They range from light tan to black and have a characteristic “pasted on” appearance. They’re also benign but look quite different up close.
- Warts are caused by a virus, tend to have a rough or bumpy texture, and are usually firmer than a skin tag.
- Moles are typically flat or slightly raised, uniformly colored, and don’t dangle from a stalk. Unlike skin tags, certain moles can change over time and warrant monitoring.
If a growth is changing color, bleeding, growing rapidly, or feels firm rather than soft, it’s worth having a professional look at it. But a classic skin tag, small, soft, flesh-colored, and hanging from a thin connection, is not a health threat on its own.
Removal Options
Since skin tags are benign, removal is entirely optional and usually cosmetic. Most people seek removal when a skin tag catches on jewelry or clothing, becomes irritated, or is in a visible spot.
Dermatologists and primary care providers typically remove skin tags using one of three methods. Cryotherapy involves applying extreme cold, usually liquid nitrogen, via a spray device or cotton swab. The frozen skin blisters and peels away over the following days as healthy skin replaces it. Cauterization uses heat to burn through the narrow stalk. Snip excision, the most straightforward approach, involves cutting the stalk with sterile scissors. All three are quick office procedures, and small skin tags often require no anesthesia at all.
Removing skin tags at home with kits, thread, or nail clippers carries real risks of infection and scarring, particularly in skin folds where bacteria thrive. The stalk of a skin tag contains small blood vessels, so cutting one off yourself can also lead to surprisingly persistent bleeding.
What Multiple Skin Tags Are Telling You
A single skin tag in a friction zone is normal and common, especially as you get older. Most adults will develop at least one in their lifetime. But a pattern of multiple skin tags, particularly if they’re appearing in new areas or increasing in number, is your body offering a clue. The strongest associations are with insulin resistance, obesity, and hormonal imbalance. For some people, skin tags are the first outward sign of blood sugar issues that haven’t yet been caught on routine lab work. Paying attention to that signal, rather than just snipping them off, is the most useful thing you can do with the information.