Skin Tags (acrochordons) are superfluous, benign growths protruding and often hanging from the surrounding skin. About 1 in 4 people have skin tags, starting in teenage years and occurring until about 50 years old – it is unlikely more will occur after that age.
They usually appear on the neck, in armpits, under the breasts and in the groin. Skin tags are harmless, but may be considered unsightly or bothersome, especially if they occur where clothing or jewelry may cause pressure (e.g., under collar or belt) or rubbing (e.g., under jewelry). If desired, they are easily removed by minor surgical techniques such as cauterization, cryotherapy or simple excision. There is no medical reason for removal of any skin tag that is not bothersome to the patient.
Your dermatologist may wish to examine anything appearing to be a skin tag to make sure that it is not something else: a wart, molluscum or seborrheic keratosis, for example.
