What should you know about a skin tag under the eye?

A skin tag is usually a soft, flesh-coloured piece of extra skin, sometimes hanging from a small stalk. Beneath the eye, other conditions such as milia, a blocked gland, or a different type of lesion may resemble it. Location matters: rubbing the bump or applying untested products near the eye can irritate delicate skin and may affect the eye itself.

Avoid scissors, home freezing products, acids, and tight threads near the eye. Take a clear photograph for comparison if the appearance is changing, and avoid rubbing or picking the area. A clinician can inspect the surface and attachment, then explain whether observation or removal is appropriate. Depending on the diagnosis and position, options may include a small in-clinic procedure, cryotherapy, or electrosurgery; not every method suits the eyelid region.

Book an assessment for a bump that grows, changes colour, crusts, bleeds, or repeatedly catches on clothing or glasses. Get urgent medical help if there is eye pain, vision change, marked eyelid swelling, pus, or redness spreading around the eye. These symptoms need assessment rather than cosmetic self-treatment.

Ask what the bump appears to be, whether an eye specialist or dermatologist should remove it, how the eye will be protected during treatment, and what healing signs are expected.