Skin Tags
Get the treatment you need at Riverchase Dermatology.
Skin tags are tiny, benign flaps of skin that typically are connected to the underlying skin by a thin stalk. They look like small pieces of hanging skin. They are not present at birth, but they commonly occur as we age. Scientists believe they are an inherited trait and therefore can run in families.
Skin Tag FAQs
If you have small, flesh-colored growths on thin stalks that grow out from your skin, you may have skin tags, also known by the medical name acrochordon. Don’t worry though; skin tags are basically harmless lesions. You’ll often find them on the eyelids, neck, armpits and groin area, and they can be small or large. Although skin tags are not harmful, they can become an annoyance or cause irritation when they rub against jewelry or clothing.
You are more likely to grow skin tags if you also have diabetes (insulin resistance), excess growth hormone (acromegaly), areas of skin that become thick and smooth (acanthosis nigricans) and/or diabetes.
Treatments for Skin Tags
Skin tags are not harmful and usually do not require treatment, but sometimes can resemble other conditions like seborrheic keratoses (a noncancerous tumor), warts or molluscum contagiosum (a skin virus). Our Riverchase dermatologists in Florida advise that you seek evaluation if you are not sure what the lesion is, if the skin tag changes in color or appearance, or if it becomes irritated or painful.
It is important to note that you should not try to cut or otherwise remove the skin tag yourself. It can bleed a lot and is susceptible to infection. Instead, seek the help of a Riverchase dermatologist.
Your healthcare provider may choose to treat the skin tag by snipping it with scissors, freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) or destroying it through the application of a small amount of electrical current (electrodesiccation, or electrocauterization). Factors in this decision may include the size and location of the skin tag on your body, your medical history, your personal preference and other considerations. Skin tag removal may not be covered by insurance, so talk to your Riverchase provider about your options if you have a skin tag that bothers you.
