What should you know about pesky skin tags?

A skin tag, also called an acrochordon, is a small flap or stalk of skin. It commonly appears where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarms, eyelids, or groin. Friction can make one sore, twisted, or prone to minor bleeding.

Not every bump is a skin tag. A wart, mole, cyst, or another lesion can look similar, and appearance alone cannot confirm the diagnosis. Picking, tying, or cutting it at home can cause bleeding, infection, scarring, and confusion about what the lesion was.

Leave an uncomplicated tag alone if it is not bothering you. Reduce rubbing with comfortable clothing and avoid snagging it. If it repeatedly catches, becomes irritated, or affects your confidence, arrange a skin examination. A clinician may discuss Skin Tag Removal and select a method based on the lesion’s position and attachment.

Do not use household acids, blades, or improvised bands. A professional may use Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal), Electrosurgery, or another method after confirming the diagnosis.

Seek an examination if a bump grows quickly, changes colour or shape, bleeds without being rubbed, develops a persistent crust, becomes very painful, or does not heal. Prompt care is also sensible for a lesion near the eye, one that is repeatedly traumatised, or any growth whose identity is unclear.

Ask how confident the clinician is that the lesion is a skin tag, whether it needs testing, which removal method suits its site, and how to care for the area afterward. Mention any history of raised scars or delayed healing.