Skin Tags
Skin tags—a body oddity—are little more than an annoyance.
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Skin tags are harmless.
They may be mildly irritating and you might not like the way they look, but skin tags are benign. They are not associated with other skin conditions or listed as a symptom of any systemic disease. Skin tags are not precursors of skin cancer.
A skin tag, also called a cutaneous tag, should be soft, flesh-colored (sometimes a bit darker) and painless. In terms of size, they can be small as a pencil’s tip or large as its eraser. A tag is flexible on the stalk, or pedicle, that connects it to the skin surface. If you have any doubts or concerns about an abnormality on your skin, have a dermatologist take a look.
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“We don’t know exactly what causes skin tags,” says Dr. Stephen Webster, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. “I see them recur within families; there may be a genetic role.” Dr. Webster suggests that friction may play a role, which would be consistent with their frequent appearance around the armpits, on the neck and on the bottom side of a woman’s breast. Children rarely present with skin tags. Rather, skin tags tend to appear after midlife and are more common among women than men. According to the National Institutes of Health, skin tags are more common in people who are overweight or have diabetes.
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Removal is simple and painless.
“If you leave a skin tag be, it may go away on its own. They sometimes twist and fall off,” says Dr. Webster. All of the removal procedures available to dermatologists are simple, quick and neat. A dermatologist may use a sharp edge, such as surgical scissors or scalpel; cryotherapy, or freezing; or touch it with a cauterizing pen, which instantly burns the tag off and closes the site.
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Though skin tags are generally harmless, they can become irritated if constantly rubbed against jewelry or clothing. If the annoyance or appearance is enough to warrant removal, consult a physician. Dr. Webster says not to use over-the-counter wart removers or to attempt any ill-advised home surgery. “I’ve had farmers tell me of their own method,” he says warily. “They said they’ll take a horse hair, loop it around the root of the skin tag and jerk the loop closed. But I can’t say that’s recommended! If anything, it’s probably an old wives’ tale.”
Skin Tags has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Stephen Webster, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and staff physician at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.
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Confused by health myths and misinformation? Each week, Rich Maloof talks to leading health experts to bring you the latest word on a wide range of health topics.
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Rich Maloof is a regular contributor to MSN Health & Fitness. He specializes in health as well as technology and music. Rich has also written for CNN, Yahoo!, Women's Health, Billboard and the “For Dummies” book series.
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