Skin tags, also calledacrochordon, are small skin growths that are usually found in areas where folds of skin rub against each other, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Their causes include weight gain, which leads to irritation in skin folds in both adults and children.They also may be linked to advancing age and underlying health conditions, including diabetes.
Skin tagsare made of collagen fibers, nerve cells, and small blood vessels that become wrapped up in layers of skin and hang from the body on a small piece of tissue called a stalk.They don’t usually appear with any symptoms, but skin tags can become painful if they are irritated or become torn or twisted. In most cases, there is little that can be done to prevent them.
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Causes
The cause of skin tags isn’t always clear, but there are some common factors among people who have them. One of the theories about the formation of skin tags is friction. These growths usually appear in areas where skin rubs together, and that results in chafing and irritation.
Yet researchers continue to find links between the development of skin tags and underlying health changes and conditions. These include:
Some researchers think there may be a genetic link as to why some people are more likely to develop skin tags than others. They occur often in Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (BHDS), a genetic disorder that can lead to kidney disease and other health issues.Researchers continue to identify gene changes associated with skin tags.
Skin Tags and DiabetesRecent studies suggest at least a third of people diagnosed with diabetes have some type of skin manifestation, including skin tags, that is linked to their underlying condition.Skin tags are also associated with other conditions that involve insulin resistance includingmetabolic syndrome, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and elevated C-reactive protein levels common with inflammation.
Skin Tags and Diabetes
Recent studies suggest at least a third of people diagnosed with diabetes have some type of skin manifestation, including skin tags, that is linked to their underlying condition.Skin tags are also associated with other conditions that involve insulin resistance includingmetabolic syndrome, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and elevated C-reactive protein levels common with inflammation.
How to Prevent Skin Tags
There’s no definitive way to prevent skin tags.You may be able to limit your skin tags with weight loss to reduce the number of skin folds, which are where tags are most likely to develop. You also may consider clothing and jewelry that chafe and irritate skin, and avoid wearing them.
Increasingly, there is evidence that skin tags may be a warning sign of more serious health conditions beyond obesity. They are common in people diagnosed with diabetes, for example, so managing an underlying cause may prove helpful.
Of course, if you’regenetically predisposedto skin tags, you can’t change your DNA. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have a family history of skin tags or previous occurrences yourself.
Skin Tags on Your EyelidsYour eyelid is one of those places on the body with lots of folds and lots of friction, so it’s not uncommon to develop skin tags here as well.There is no way to prevent skin tags from coming out on your eyelid or the areas around your eye. However, these growths should not interfere with your vision and can be safely removed.
Skin Tags on Your Eyelids
Your eyelid is one of those places on the body with lots of folds and lots of friction, so it’s not uncommon to develop skin tags here as well.There is no way to prevent skin tags from coming out on your eyelid or the areas around your eye. However, these growths should not interfere with your vision and can be safely removed.
Treatment
Once removed, a skin tag won’t come back in the same place, but if you’re prone to them, they may occur in other spots (near or far from the original site).
Can Toothpaste Remove Skin Tags?No. Despite the many stories that Colgate or other popular toothpastes can help get rid of skin tags, there doesn’t seem to be any science to support this claim, just personal stories.
Can Toothpaste Remove Skin Tags?
No. Despite the many stories that Colgate or other popular toothpastes can help get rid of skin tags, there doesn’t seem to be any science to support this claim, just personal stories.
Summary
No one really knows what causes skin tags, but people who have certain medical conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, do seem more prone to developing them. While your skin tags may bother you, remember that they aren’t harmful in most cases and are not contagious.
If your skin tag has a tendency to be irritated or caught on clothing or jewelry, removal is fairly simple. Talk to your healthcare provider about removal techniques.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Greene RK, Gangidi S, Zhao R, Nelson JM, Harms K, Nakamura M.The relationship between acrochordons, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in the pediatric population: A retrospective cohort study.Pediatr Dermatol. 2024 Jul-Aug;41(4):660-666. doi: 10.1111/pde.15639Fang CEH, Crowe C, Murphy A, O’Donnell M, Finucane FM.Cross-sectional study of the association between skin tags and vascular risk factors in a bariatric clinic-based cohort of Irish adults with morbid obesity.BMC Res Notes. 2020 Mar 16;13(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05006-4Harvard Health Blog.Skin Tag Removal: Optional but Effective.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Tags.González-Saldivar G, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez R, Ocampo-Candiani J, González-González JG, Gómez-Flores M.Skin Manifestations of Insulin Resistance: From a Biochemical Stance to a Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017 Mar;7(1):37-51. doi:10.1007/s13555-016-0160-3Tripathy T, Singh BSTP, Kar BR.Association of skin tag with metabolic syndrome and its components: a case-control study from eastern India.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):284-287. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_238_18Darlenski R, Mihaylova V, Handjieva-Darlenska T.The Link Between Obesity and the Skin.Front Nutr. 2022 Mar 10;9:855573. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.855573American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.Bird LM, Kuo DJ, Masser-Frye D, Mo JQ, Elster JD.Leiomyosarcoma in Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome.J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Mar;42(2):136-137. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001715Aoki S, Hirata Y, Kawai T, Nakabayashi K, Hata K, Suzuki H,et al.Frequent FGFR3 and Ras Gene Mutations in Skin Tags or Acrochordons.J Invest Dermatol.2021 Nov;141(11):2756-2760.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.03.028Penn Medicine.The Skinny on Skin Tags: 6 Questions and Answers.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Greene RK, Gangidi S, Zhao R, Nelson JM, Harms K, Nakamura M.The relationship between acrochordons, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in the pediatric population: A retrospective cohort study.Pediatr Dermatol. 2024 Jul-Aug;41(4):660-666. doi: 10.1111/pde.15639Fang CEH, Crowe C, Murphy A, O’Donnell M, Finucane FM.Cross-sectional study of the association between skin tags and vascular risk factors in a bariatric clinic-based cohort of Irish adults with morbid obesity.BMC Res Notes. 2020 Mar 16;13(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05006-4Harvard Health Blog.Skin Tag Removal: Optional but Effective.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Tags.González-Saldivar G, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez R, Ocampo-Candiani J, González-González JG, Gómez-Flores M.Skin Manifestations of Insulin Resistance: From a Biochemical Stance to a Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017 Mar;7(1):37-51. doi:10.1007/s13555-016-0160-3Tripathy T, Singh BSTP, Kar BR.Association of skin tag with metabolic syndrome and its components: a case-control study from eastern India.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):284-287. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_238_18Darlenski R, Mihaylova V, Handjieva-Darlenska T.The Link Between Obesity and the Skin.Front Nutr. 2022 Mar 10;9:855573. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.855573American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.Bird LM, Kuo DJ, Masser-Frye D, Mo JQ, Elster JD.Leiomyosarcoma in Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome.J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Mar;42(2):136-137. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001715Aoki S, Hirata Y, Kawai T, Nakabayashi K, Hata K, Suzuki H,et al.Frequent FGFR3 and Ras Gene Mutations in Skin Tags or Acrochordons.J Invest Dermatol.2021 Nov;141(11):2756-2760.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.03.028Penn Medicine.The Skinny on Skin Tags: 6 Questions and Answers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Greene RK, Gangidi S, Zhao R, Nelson JM, Harms K, Nakamura M.The relationship between acrochordons, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in the pediatric population: A retrospective cohort study.Pediatr Dermatol. 2024 Jul-Aug;41(4):660-666. doi: 10.1111/pde.15639Fang CEH, Crowe C, Murphy A, O’Donnell M, Finucane FM.Cross-sectional study of the association between skin tags and vascular risk factors in a bariatric clinic-based cohort of Irish adults with morbid obesity.BMC Res Notes. 2020 Mar 16;13(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05006-4Harvard Health Blog.Skin Tag Removal: Optional but Effective.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Tags.González-Saldivar G, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez R, Ocampo-Candiani J, González-González JG, Gómez-Flores M.Skin Manifestations of Insulin Resistance: From a Biochemical Stance to a Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017 Mar;7(1):37-51. doi:10.1007/s13555-016-0160-3Tripathy T, Singh BSTP, Kar BR.Association of skin tag with metabolic syndrome and its components: a case-control study from eastern India.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):284-287. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_238_18Darlenski R, Mihaylova V, Handjieva-Darlenska T.The Link Between Obesity and the Skin.Front Nutr. 2022 Mar 10;9:855573. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.855573American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.Bird LM, Kuo DJ, Masser-Frye D, Mo JQ, Elster JD.Leiomyosarcoma in Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome.J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Mar;42(2):136-137. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001715Aoki S, Hirata Y, Kawai T, Nakabayashi K, Hata K, Suzuki H,et al.Frequent FGFR3 and Ras Gene Mutations in Skin Tags or Acrochordons.J Invest Dermatol.2021 Nov;141(11):2756-2760.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.03.028Penn Medicine.The Skinny on Skin Tags: 6 Questions and Answers.
Greene RK, Gangidi S, Zhao R, Nelson JM, Harms K, Nakamura M.The relationship between acrochordons, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in the pediatric population: A retrospective cohort study.Pediatr Dermatol. 2024 Jul-Aug;41(4):660-666. doi: 10.1111/pde.15639
Fang CEH, Crowe C, Murphy A, O’Donnell M, Finucane FM.Cross-sectional study of the association between skin tags and vascular risk factors in a bariatric clinic-based cohort of Irish adults with morbid obesity.BMC Res Notes. 2020 Mar 16;13(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05006-4
Harvard Health Blog.Skin Tag Removal: Optional but Effective.
American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Tags.
González-Saldivar G, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez R, Ocampo-Candiani J, González-González JG, Gómez-Flores M.Skin Manifestations of Insulin Resistance: From a Biochemical Stance to a Clinical Diagnosis and Management.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017 Mar;7(1):37-51. doi:10.1007/s13555-016-0160-3
Tripathy T, Singh BSTP, Kar BR.Association of skin tag with metabolic syndrome and its components: a case-control study from eastern India.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):284-287. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_238_18
Darlenski R, Mihaylova V, Handjieva-Darlenska T.The Link Between Obesity and the Skin.Front Nutr. 2022 Mar 10;9:855573. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.855573
American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.
Bird LM, Kuo DJ, Masser-Frye D, Mo JQ, Elster JD.Leiomyosarcoma in Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome.J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Mar;42(2):136-137. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001715
Aoki S, Hirata Y, Kawai T, Nakabayashi K, Hata K, Suzuki H,et al.Frequent FGFR3 and Ras Gene Mutations in Skin Tags or Acrochordons.J Invest Dermatol.2021 Nov;141(11):2756-2760.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.03.028
Penn Medicine.The Skinny on Skin Tags: 6 Questions and Answers.
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