A skin tag is a small, brown or flesh-colored flap of skin that is usually narrow at its base. Skin tags may appear around the neck, under the arms, under the breasts, in groin creases, and on the inside of the upper thigh area.
There is no known reason for the appearance of skin tags. Skin tags occur most frequently at sites where the skin is rubbed by clothing or other body parts. They often show up in hot, moist body creases.
Skin tags are soft flaps of skin that range in size from very tiny to the size of a pencil eraser tip. They do not cause pain unless they become twisted, irritated, or inflamed.
The cause of skin tags are unknown, but they occur more often on skin surfaces that are hot, moist, or frequently rubbed.
There is no way to prevent skin tags.
A healthcare professional can diagnose skin tags by their characteristic appearance.
Skin tags are not cancerous and have no long-term effects.
Skin tags are not contagious and pose no risk to others.
It is usually not medically necessary to treat skin tags. If they are unsightly or annoying, they can be removed by a healthcare professional. Methods of removing skin tags include the following: cutting them off with a sterile scalpel or scissorsburning with a special heated needlecryotherapy, which involves freezing with liquid nitrogenlaser surgery
Rarely, surgery to remove skin tags can be complicated by bleeding, infection, or a reaction to any anesthetic used.
Treated sites should heal quickly with minimal or invisible scarring.
A person will most likely continue to develop new skin tags. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare professional.
