How Do Skin Tags Develop?

If you have skin tags (acrochordons), you have a lot of company. Researchers estimate these pesky growths affect between 50%-60% of adults, becoming even more common as we age. 

While skin tags aren’t cancerous or harmful on their own, they can cause irritation, discomfort, and even embarrassment, depending on where and how they form. At Luminary Dermatology, our team uses safe, effective techniques to eliminate problematic skin tags for healthier-looking skin without risk of infection. In this post, learn how skin tags develop and what we can do to help.

Skin tags: the basics

Skin tags are small, flesh-colored growths that typically form in areas where irritation occurs, like in the folds of your skin or where clothing causes ongoing pressure or rubbing. In turn, continual friction causes your skin to grow excess cells and collagen, forming the soft, small growths we know as skin tags. 

Many people find tags forming in areas where skin-on-skin contact occurs, like under the breasts, in the groin, or in the underarm area. Repeated rubbing from clothing can cause tags to form, too, especially in areas around your collar or waistband. 

While anyone can form skin tags, they tend to run in families, which means if you have a family member with skin tags, you may have a higher chance of having them, too. They also tend to occur more commonly as we age and among people who:

• Are overweight or obese
• Have hormonal fluctuations or hormonal imbalances
• Have diabetes, heart disease, or metabolic syndrome

While they’re not harmful, irritation and friction can make skin tags sore, red, and inflamed, sometimes leading to bleeding or infection. 

Getting rid of skin tags

Because they’re so tiny, many people are tempted to try to remove skin tags themselves. but despite their small size, skin tags are made up of skin and blood vessels, and trying to remove them on your own definitely poses some serious challenges.

Over-the-counter and home-remedy removal options significantly increase the risk of infection that can quickly spread and cause serious problems. These methods can also lead to scarring, not to mention the pain they may involve. What’s more, these techniques may not remove the entire skin tag, leading to regrowth and continued irritation.

At Luminary Dermatology, our team uses advanced medical methods to remove skin tags, including: 

• Surgical excision to remove the entire growth
• Cryosurgery to “freeze” the tag so it falls off on its own
• Cauterization to “heat” the tag so it’s instantly removed

Afterward, we may apply medication or dressings to prevent infection and protect the area while it heals.

Medical skin tag removal methods are extremely precise for faster healing and reduced risk of scarring. Plus, we can treat multiple skin tags in a single visit.

Get rid of pesky skin tags

Although skin tags are harmless, that doesn’t mean they can’t cause problems. To learn how we can help you get rid of unattractive, uncomfortable skin tags, book an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Luminary Dermatology. We have offices in Arcadia, Miami, Bradenton, Homestead, Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, and Northport, Florida.