What should you know about skin tags on face?

A facial skin tag may be smooth, flesh-coloured, darker than nearby skin, or attached by a small stalk. Friction from masks, eyewear, shaving, or cosmetics can make it tender or inflamed. Facial bumps can also be warts, moles, milia, cysts, or other lesions, so a new growth should not be labelled from a photograph or a quick comparison with someone else's skin.

Keep the area clean, avoid picking it, and stop any product that causes burning. Do not use scissors, thread, acids, or over-the-counter wart treatments on the face. During a consultation, a dermatologist can examine the surface and attachment point, then explain whether leaving it alone or removing it is appropriate. Clinician-performed removal may involve skin tag removal, cryotherapy, or electrosurgery.

Book an appointment if the growth is changing, repeatedly bleeding, crusting, ulcerating, painful, or unlike your other skin marks. Prompt review is also sensible when it lies close to the eye or interferes with shaving or vision. Urgent care is appropriate for rapidly increasing facial swelling, spreading redness, fever, or eye symptoms.

What features support a skin tag diagnosis? Could another lesion look similar? Would removal leave a mark? Which method fits its location, colour, and attachment? How should I protect the area while it heals?