What causes skin tags, and can I remove them myself?
Skin tags grow where skin rubs skin: neck, armpits, groin, under breasts. Friction, genetics and weight contribute, and numerous tags associate with insulin resistance, worth a sugar check if they multiply.
They are harmless, but home removal with threads, clippers or acid kits invites bleeding, infection and scarring, and burns the bridge of having the spot checked first.
A clinician removes them in moments and, importantly, confirms each is actually a tag; a few skin cancers do fine impressions of them. Snug spots that catch on jewelry are legitimate reasons for removal, not vanity.
Source: NHS, skin tags
See a doctor promptly if
- Excessive thirst, passing large amounts of urine, blurred vision or unexplained weight loss. These suggest blood sugar is already well above the prediabetes range
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deep rapid breathing or a fruity smell on the breath: go to an emergency department
- A random blood glucose of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher, or a fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher
- New numbness, burning or pins and needles in both feet
- A wound on the foot that is not healing, or a skin or genital infection that keeps returning
Free medicine remindersThe dose you keep forgetting, on your phone, with nothing to install
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
The one skin product doctors push
Broad-spectrum SPF 50, worn daily, does more against skin aging and skin cancer risk than any cream sold above it. The best sunscreen is the one you will actually wear every morning.
Buying through this link supports the free library with a small commission. It never changes a pick.
A spot, rash or mole of your own?
Upload up to three photos. A dermatologist replies in writing within 24 hours.
People also ask
Health education, not medical advice.