Skin Tag

What Is a Skin Tag?

A skin tag is a common, benign condition which consists of a bit of skin that projects from the surrounding skin and may appear attached to the skin. Skin tags can vary quite a bit in appearance. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented, and either simply be raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk so that the skin tag hangs from the skin.

Where Do Skin Tags Occur?

Skin tags can occur almost anywhere there is skin. However, favorite areas for tags are the eyelids, neck, armpits, upper chest, and groin.

Who Tends To Get Skin Tags?

They are much more common with age beginning in middle age and they tend to be somewhat more prevalent in women than men.

How Are Skin Tags Treated?

In cases in which a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted, treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply, or cutting off the tag with a scalpel or scissors.