Skin tags (also referred to as acrochordon, cutaneous papilloma, cutaneous tag, fibroepithelial polyp,
fibroma molluscum, fibroma pendulum, papilloma colli, or soft fibromas) are small, usually harmless pieces of soft skin (generally filled with fat and nerve cells), which may or may not have a “stalk”, (peduncle).
While they can manifest anywhere on the body, they often tend to pop up in areas of friction, e.g. the eyelids, armpits, groin, neck, etc. Skin tags, while not dangerous, do tend to be inconvenient and uncomfortable (or in some cases, unsightly), interfering with shaving, becoming irritated by clothing or jewelry, or even bursting under pressure if they grow too large.
Owing to the way skin tags usually appear in areas of high friction, it’s thought that skin rubbing against skin is a primary cause of these tags. The rubbing of skin is thought to cause clusters of collagen and blood vessels to get “trapped” inside thicker parts of the skin, where after they build up into a tag.
Risk factors include age (skin tags usually first occur in middle age), obesity, and pregnancy. Using illegal steroids is also thought to cause skin tags. Skin Tag Removal As skin tags tend to get larger over time (and thus more likely to burst or cause discomfort), it’s best to remove them while they are still small.
Some people believe that removing a skin tag will cause more to grow, but this is a myth which likely stems from confusing skin tags with warts, which are caused by a virus and can spread if not removed properly.
How a skin tag should be removed depends largely on the size of the tag. If your tag is small and has a narrow base, generally you can safely remove it yourself; either buy a skin tag removal kit, or try “tying off” the skin tag by tying a piece of dental floss or cotton string around its base.
This will starve the tag of blood, and the tag will then usually die and drop off on its own. If you are brave and wish for immediate results, you can sterilize a sharp pair of scissors and then cut the tag off, but make sure the scissors have razor-sharp blades or you will likely cause yourself more pain than is necessary.
If you skin tags are large, however, it’s best to see your doctor—trying to remove a large tag yourself can cause a great deal of bleeding, and also puts you at a greater risk of infection.
fibroma molluscum, fibroma pendulum, papilloma colli, or soft fibromas) are small, usually harmless pieces of soft skin (generally filled with fat and nerve cells), which may or may not have a “stalk”, (peduncle).
While they can manifest anywhere on the body, they often tend to pop up in areas of friction, e.g. the eyelids, armpits, groin, neck, etc. Skin tags, while not dangerous, do tend to be inconvenient and uncomfortable (or in some cases, unsightly), interfering with shaving, becoming irritated by clothing or jewelry, or even bursting under pressure if they grow too large.
What causes skin tags?
Owing to the way skin tags usually appear in areas of high friction, it’s thought that skin rubbing against skin is a primary cause of these tags. The rubbing of skin is thought to cause clusters of collagen and blood vessels to get “trapped” inside thicker parts of the skin, where after they build up into a tag.
Risk factors include age (skin tags usually first occur in middle age), obesity, and pregnancy. Using illegal steroids is also thought to cause skin tags. Skin Tag Removal As skin tags tend to get larger over time (and thus more likely to burst or cause discomfort), it’s best to remove them while they are still small.
Some people believe that removing a skin tag will cause more to grow, but this is a myth which likely stems from confusing skin tags with warts, which are caused by a virus and can spread if not removed properly.
This will starve the tag of blood, and the tag will then usually die and drop off on its own. If you are brave and wish for immediate results, you can sterilize a sharp pair of scissors and then cut the tag off, but make sure the scissors have razor-sharp blades or you will likely cause yourself more pain than is necessary.
If you skin tags are large, however, it’s best to see your doctor—trying to remove a large tag yourself can cause a great deal of bleeding, and also puts you at a greater risk of infection.
