Skin Tags: What Are They and How to Get Rid of Them?
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Leesduur: 5 min
Small bumps suddenly appearing – do you recognize them? You might find them annoying or unsightly, but what are they exactly?
Skin tags are common, especially in adults over 40, overweight people, or during hormonal changes like pregnancy. They're usually harmless, but it's helpful to know exactly what they are, why they develop, and what you can do about them.
In this article, I'll take you into the world of skin tags, so you know exactly what to expect.
Skin tags are soft, harmless flaps of skin in folds, often confused with warts but caused by friction, not by viruses.
Risk factors: age, excess weight, hormonal fluctuations and heredity increase the chance of these small protrusions.
Prevent skin irritation by wearing breathable clothing and using gentle skincare. Have skin tags professionally removed; cutting them yourself increases the risk of infection.
Table of contents
What are skin tags?
Skin tags are actually the trendy name for what my grandmother always called "skin tags ." They are small, soft growths of skin that often hang loosely from a thin stalk.
You often find them in places like your neck, armpits or under your breasts, where your skin naturally folds.
Good to know : Skin tags are usually not painful or itchy, unless they become irritated by friction from clothing or jewelry.
Skin tags are not warts
I understand, it's quite confusing, because skin tags sometimes look like warts. And we call them warts on stalks. But they're not.
The difference?
- Warts are caused by a virus and feel hard and rough
- Skin tags are soft and flexible, and are mainly caused by friction or skin folds
And no mars either
And then there are also marisks, which sometimes look a bit like skin tags, but are still different.
Marisken are soft flaps of skin around the anus , which develop due to stretched skin, for example, after hemorrhoids. They are usually skin-colored to light pink and harmless, but can sometimes cause discomfort.
How do you recognize a skin tag?
You can recognize a skin tag by the following characteristics:
- A skin tag is a small, soft protrusion on a thin stalk or flap
- They are usually skin colored, but can sometimes be slightly darker
- They are often found in places where the skin rubs together, such as the neck, armpits, under the breasts or around the eyes
- Skin tags are usually painless and move easily with the skin
- It may cause some itching
Good to know : Are you unsure whether it's a skin tag? Or do you notice changes such as bleeding, (rapid) growth, or pain? Then contact a doctor.
Causes of skin tags
Skin tags are mainly caused by friction and skin folds, which cause the skin to protrude in certain places.
They become more common as you get older and can also be related to:
- Being overweight - This creates more skin folds, which causes the skin to rub together more often. This friction encourages the growth of skin tags. There's also a link between being overweight and having a disrupted metabolism, which can increase the development of skin tags. (1)
- Age - You are at greater risk of skin tags as you get older, especially until about age 50. After that, the rate of progression slows down. (2)
- Hormonal changes (such as during pregnancy) - Skin tags may appear more often or become larger due to hormonal fluctuations and the stretching of the skin during pregnancy. (3)
- Heredity - Some people are genetically more susceptible to it and therefore develop skin tags more quickly. (4)
So it is a combination of factors that cause these small skin flaps to develop.
Preventing skin tags: 3 tips to keep your skin healthy
Preventing skin tags entirely is difficult, as there's little you can do about natural skin folds, heredity, or aging. Hormonal changes are also often unavoidable.
Your weight is a factor that you can sometimes influence, but I understand that this is not easy for everyone.
So there are no guarantees to completely prevent skin tags, but there are ways to keep your skin healthy and thus reduce the chance of skin tags.
- Minimize skin friction —for example, by wearing well-fitting clothing. Skin tags are primarily caused by friction and skin folds, so prevention isn't always possible. However, maintaining a healthy weight can help, as excess weight often leads to more skin folds and therefore more friction.
- Wear breathable fabrics - There's no direct evidence that breathable clothing prevents skin tags, but clothing made from natural materials like cotton helps your skin breathe and reduces friction and irritation. Less irritation means a lower risk of skin problems. Dermatologists therefore recommend breathable, comfortable clothing.
- Avoid excessive use of harsh skin products - Skin products with harsh chemicals can dry out and irritate your skin, which can increase chafing and inflammation. Instead, choose gentle, natural skincare products that support the skin barrier and prevent irritation.
Can you remove skin tags yourself?
Do you already have a skin tag and want to get rid of it? You might be wondering if you can remove it yourself. That's understandable: It often seems easy and quick.
However, it's usually not a good idea to remove skin tags yourself, for example, by cutting or tying them off. This can carry risks such as infection , bleeding, or permanent scarring , especially if done incorrectly.
Some people also try a drugstore wart pen. However, skin tags aren't warts, and these pens aren't always effective at removing them. For warts, such a pen often doesn't work at all.
My advice? Always contact a specialist to have your skin tags removed safely . This way, you can be sure it's done safely and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Professional treatment and advice
Professional help in removing skin tags is safe and effective . Clinics and dermatologists use methods like freezing, lasering, or cutting to remove skin tags quickly and painlessly .
If you're considering skin tag removal, it's best to visit the website of the Surgical Expertise Center . They have experience with these treatments and can provide you with sound advice.
Ebrina van der Bijl
Ebrina is a nutritionist with a deep commitment to healthy eating and a sustainable lifestyle, based in beautiful Portugal. Her passion for natural and organic products is at the heart of her work. With a background in Nutrition & Dietetics and experience in product development and writing, she translates complex scientific information into practical advice for a balanced lifestyle.
Sources used
- Fang, C.E.H., Crowe, C., Murphy, A., O'Donnell, M., & Finucane, F.M. (2020). 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 Research Notes, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-020-05006-4
- Banik, R., & Lubach, D. (1987). Skin Tags: Localization and Frequencies According to Sex and Age. Dermatology, 174(4), 180–183. https://doi.org/10.1159/000249169
- Gupta, S. N., Madke, B., Ganjre, S., Jawade, S., & Kondalkar, A. (2024). Cutaneous changes during pregnancy: A comprehensive review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.69986
- Pandey, A., & Sonthalia, S. (2023, July 31). Skin tags. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547724/
