What should you know about skin tags appearing?

Skin tags are soft, flesh-coloured or slightly darker growths that may hang from a narrow stalk. They often develop in folds where skin touches clothing or other skin. Their appearance can be unsettling, but many are benign. A clinician should check any growth that changes quickly, bleeds without repeated rubbing, becomes persistently painful, or does not resemble a typical tag.

Friction, moisture and repeated movement can contribute to tags, especially around the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin or torso. They may appear singly or in clusters, and existing tags can become irritated by jewellery, shaving or tight clothing. A new bump is not automatically a skin tag: warts, moles and other lesions can look similar. Diagnosis is usually based on an in-person view and examination.

Leave the area clean and dry, and reduce rubbing with comfortable clothing. Do not cut, tie off or burn a tag at home; these methods can cause bleeding, infection or a scar and may delay diagnosis of a different lesion. If the tag catches, feels sore or bothers you cosmetically, a dermatology clinician can discuss removal options such as cryotherapy, electrosurgery or a minor procedure. The choice depends on its size, position and appearance.

Arrange a timely skin assessment if the growth is rapidly enlarging, has an irregular colour or border, repeatedly bleeds, forms an ulcer, or causes significant pain. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, warmth, pus or fever after irritation or attempted removal. An eye-area, genital or otherwise hard-to-see lesion deserves professional assessment before any treatment.

Ask whether the lesion has the typical features of a skin tag, whether removal is medically needed or mainly for comfort, which method fits its location, and how to care for the skin afterward. Mention recent growth, bleeding, colour change, diabetes, medicines that affect bleeding, or a history of unusual moles.