Pregnancy and Skin Tags: What to Know

Skin tags are soft, flesh-coloured or slightly darker pieces of skin that often form where skin rubs, such as the neck, underarms, breasts, or groin. Hormonal changes and increased friction during pregnancy may make existing tags more prominent or contribute to new ones. They are not contagious and do not spread from contact.

A typical tag is soft and attached by a narrow stalk. A growth that is firm, irregular, rapidly changing, persistently crusted, or difficult to distinguish from a mole may be something else. Pregnancy does not make every new growth a skin tag, so visual assessment matters.

Avoid cutting, tying off, freezing, or applying wart products to a tag yourself. Keep rubbing areas dry, choose loose clothing, and protect a tag from jewellery, shaving, and bra or waistband friction. If it catches repeatedly, a dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis and discuss whether waiting is sensible or removal is appropriate.

Removal methods can include [Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal)](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/cryotherapy-lesion-removal/), [Electrosurgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/electrosurgery/), or [Skin Tag Removal](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-tag-removal/). Tell the clinician you are pregnant, including how far along you are, before any procedure or numbing medicine is planned.

Arrange a medical review if the growth bleeds without being rubbed, becomes painful, develops an open sore, changes colour or shape, or grows quickly. Seek prompt care for bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure, spreading redness, or pus. These signs do not diagnose cancer, but they should not be managed as a routine skin tag without examination.

Ask whether the growth has the appearance of a skin tag, whether pregnancy changes the timing of removal, and which anaesthetic or aftercare products are suitable for you. Ask what changes should trigger a return visit.