What should you know about skin tags on face and neck?

Skin tags can be smooth or wrinkled and may hang from a narrow stalk. On the neck, collars, jewellery, hair, and mask straps can rub them; on the face, shaving and skincare products may do the same. A similar-looking bump could instead be a wart, mole, cyst, or another skin lesion. Colour, texture, speed of change, and the way it attaches all help a clinician decide what it is.

Reduce friction where possible and avoid twisting, tying, cutting, or burning the growth. Keep nails short if you tend to scratch it. If it catches on clothing or affects appearance, a dermatologist can assess it and discuss observation or removal. Depending on its features and location, options can include skin tag removal, cryotherapy, or electrosurgery, followed by simple wound care.

Arrange medical review for a lesion that enlarges, changes colour, bleeds repeatedly, forms a persistent crust, becomes painful, or fails to heal after irritation stops. Seek prompt help for spreading redness, pus, fever, or sudden swelling. These warning signs call for an examination; they do not establish a diagnosis on their own.

Does the lesion have the typical features of a skin tag? Should it be photographed or monitored? Which removal method is suitable for the neck or face? What changes should prompt a follow-up?