

Small skin tags that have a stalk or stem, known as pedunculated skin tags, may be removed using a scalpel or sterile surgical blade scissors. If you have a larger skin tag or multiple skin tags, the doctor may apply a topical anesthetic before proceeding. You might experience some brief discomfort.

Small skin tags can often be removed without the use of an anesthetic. (Skin tags sometimes fall off on their own, but most don’t.)ĭermatologists typically use one of three methods to remove skin tags, depending on the size and location of the growth. There is no medical reason skin tags need to be removed, but if you find them bothersome or unsightly, a dermatologist can get the job done. It’s possible that insulin resistance might also increase the risk. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to develop skin tags.

Friction - from skin rubbing against skin or clothing rubbing against skin - is one possible trigger. No one knows exactly why skin tags form, but they’re more common with age, obesity and pregnancy. Common sites include the eyelids, neck, armpits, groin area and under the breasts. Skin tags can appear almost anywhere, but they tend to grow in skin folds. Sometimes they stay that way, but often they begin to slowly protrude from the skin. They are usually flesh colored but may be darker. Skin tags, technically called acrochordons, are benign skin growths made of collagen fibers, nerve cells, fat cells and a covering of skin. (And above all, don’t reach for the scissors, nail clippers or a piece of string!) What is a skin tag? In that case, head for the dermatologist, not the drugstore. And, let’s face it, if you have a skin tag that’s sitting in plain view, you may get tired of looking at it. They’re harmless, but sometimes annoying as they may rub against clothing or get snagged by jewelry. Skin tags are those soft, fleshy growths that protrude from the skin and sometimes hang off it.
