Overview Of Skin Tags
A cutaneous skin tag is a common skin growth. Most of the time, it is harmless.
Commonly Associated With
Acrochordon; Fibroepithelial polyp
Causes Of Skin Tags
A cutaneous tag most often occurs in older adults. They are more common in people who are overweight or who have diabetes. They are thought to occur from skin rubbing against the skin.
Symptoms Of Skin Tags
The tag sticks out and may have a short, narrow stalk connecting it to the surface of the dermis. Some are as long as half an inch (1 centimeter). Most are the same color as the skin, or a little darker.
In most cases, a tag is painless and does not grow or change. However, it may become irritated from rubbing by clothing or other materials.
Places where skin tags occur include:
- Neck
- Underarms
- Middle of the body, or under folds of skin
- Eyelids
- Inner thighs
- Other body areas
Exams & Tests
Your health care provider can diagnose this condition by looking at your skin. Sometimes a skin biopsy is done.
Treatment Of Skin Tags
Treatment is often not needed. Your provider may recommend treatment if the tag is irritating, or you don’t like how it looks.
Treatment may include:
- Surgery to remove it
- Freezing it (cryotherapy)
- Burning it off (cauterization)
- Tying string or dental floss around it to cut off the blood supply so that it will eventually fall off
