Skin tags cluster on the neck because it’s one of the body’s highest-friction zones, where skin folds and rubs against itself throughout the day. About half of all adults develop skin tags, and they tend to appear in batches rather than one at a time. But if you’re noticing a sudden increase, there are specific reasons that could explain the surge, from weight changes and hormonal shifts to early signs of insulin resistance.
Why the Neck Is a Hot Spot
Skin tags form when the body produces extra cells in the skin’s top layers. They need a trigger to start growing, and that trigger is almost always repeated friction. The neck checks every box: collars rub against it, necklaces sit on it, and the natural folds of skin beneath the jaw create constant skin-on-skin contact. Turning your head, looking down at a phone, even sleeping on your side all generate micro-friction that can prompt these small growths.
Other common locations (armpits, under the breasts, the groin) share the same trait. They’re all areas where skin touches skin repeatedly. But the neck is uniquely visible, which is why a cluster there tends to get noticed first.
Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Changes
If you’re developing many skin tags at once, the most important thing to rule out is insulin resistance. When insulin levels stay elevated for long periods, insulin acts as a growth-promoting hormone that causes skin cells and connective tissue to multiply faster than normal. It also ramps up other growth factors in the body, increasing skin cell turnover and thickening. The result can be a crop of new skin tags that seems to appear out of nowhere.
Research published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found that having 10 or more skin tags is a meaningful marker. Patients with more than 30 skin tags were at significantly higher risk of having diabetes, and multiple skin tags turned out to be an even stronger predictor of diabetes than darkened, velvety patches of skin (a condition called acanthosis nigricans that often appears alongside skin tags on the neck). Notably, skin tags correlated more closely with high fasting insulin levels than with blood sugar alone, meaning they can show up before diabetes is actually diagnosed.
If you’ve also gained weight recently, carry extra weight around your midsection, or have noticed dark patches of skin on your neck or armpits, these are worth mentioning to your doctor. A simple blood test can check your fasting insulin and blood sugar levels.
Weight Gain and Increased Friction
Even a modest increase in weight can change the geometry of your neck. Skin that used to sit flat may now fold over itself, creating new friction points. This is one of the most common reasons people notice a sudden wave of skin tags. The tags aren’t caused by the weight itself but by the increased skin-on-skin contact that comes with it. Tighter-fitting collars and necklaces that dig in more than they used to can add to the problem.
Hormonal Shifts
Pregnancy is a well-documented trigger. Skin tags that appear during pregnancy tend to show up in the second half, clustering on the neck, chest, armpits, and under the breasts. They’re driven by the hormonal surge of pregnancy, and many shrink or disappear after delivery. Some persist, though, and can grow larger in subsequent pregnancies.
Other hormonal transitions can have a similar effect. Perimenopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and thyroid changes all alter the hormonal environment in ways that promote skin cell growth. PCOS in particular overlaps with insulin resistance, which compounds the effect.
Genetics and Aging
The tendency to develop skin tags runs in families. If your parents or grandparents dealt with them, you’re more likely to as well. This genetic predisposition means some people will develop their first skin tags in their 20s while others won’t see any until their 50s, but the family pattern tends to hold.
Aging itself is a factor. Skin tags become more common with each decade, peaking in middle age and beyond. The skin loses elasticity over time, creating more folds and looser areas that generate friction. So if you’re in your 40s or 50s and suddenly noticing tags you never had before, age-related skin changes are part of the explanation.
Removal Options
Skin tags are benign and don’t need to be removed for medical reasons, but many people want them gone for comfort or cosmetic reasons, especially on the neck where they catch on jewelry and clothing. A dermatologist can remove them in a quick office visit using one of three common methods: freezing them off with liquid nitrogen, burning them off with a small electric probe, or snipping them with sterile instruments. All three are fast and typically require only a single appointment.
Over-the-counter ligation kits work by placing a tiny band around the base of the tag, cutting off blood flow until it falls off on its own. These can work for small tags, but trying to cut or pull off skin tags at home is a bad idea. Skin tags have their own blood supply and sometimes contain nerves. Cutting them with scissors can cause uncontrolled bleeding and creates a real risk of infection, as UCLA Health dermatologists have specifically cautioned against.
Reducing New Growth
You can’t entirely prevent skin tags if you’re genetically prone to them, but you can reduce the conditions that encourage new ones. Keeping skin folds dry and reducing friction helps. Wearing soft, smooth collars and avoiding heavy necklaces that rub against the same spot can make a difference on the neck specifically.
The bigger lever is metabolic. If insulin resistance is driving the growth, improving insulin sensitivity through regular physical activity, reducing refined carbohydrates, and losing even a small amount of weight can slow the rate at which new tags appear. People who address the underlying insulin issue often notice that new skin tags stop forming, even if existing ones don’t go away on their own. If you’re seeing a rapid increase in skin tags alongside any combination of fatigue, increased thirst, or darkened skin patches, getting your blood sugar and insulin levels checked is a practical first step.