A 22-year-old member asked:
what causes skin tags?
4 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A Verified Doctor answered
A US doctor answered Learn more
Skin tags: Bening lession. Friction of skin against skin is believed to be the cause. Is more common in obese people , usually on the underarm/axilla-trunk area , and neck area.
5912 views

Dr. Joseph Eastern answered
Dermatology 44 years experience
As my old...: ...Distinguished professor of dermatology used to say, "the lord." skin tags are just redundant skin that folds over itself. Beyond the annoyance of getting them caught in jewelry or clothing, they are of no consequence.
5912 views

Dr. Vance Harris answered
Family Medicine 37 years experience
Friction and rubbing: Some people tend to get them and other people do not. We don't know why that is. The occur in places that the skin experiences friction or rubbing but why some get them and others don't we don't know.
5656 viewsMerged

Dr. Christopher Marek answered
Plastic Surgery 23 years experience
Friction: Most often skin tags appear in areas where skin rubs together or clothing and necklaces rub. You see them in skin folds around under arms, upper thighs, and neck. They can appear in other areas as well. They are simple to remove if bothersome. If you have numerous tags there may be a genetic component as well.
3080 viewsMerged
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Similar questions
A 30-year-old member asked:
Can skin tags be dangerous?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Margaret Mann answered
Dermatology 19 years experience
No: Skin tags are benign, noncancerous growths that typically grow in folds of the body (neck, underarm, groin, under the breast). They are not dangerous but can get rubbed and irritated. If you are concerned about a growth on your body, you should see a dermatologist to make sure it is indeed a skin tag. Sometimes other growths such as skin cancer can look like skin tags.
6382 views
CA
A 35-year-old member asked:
Are skin tags harmful?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Kathleen Cullen answered
Internal Medicine 9 years experience
No: No they are not harmful but they can be somewhat irritating because of their location. They tend to grow around neck lines, bra lines, and underwear lines. Your doctor can easily remove them but insurance often wont pay since it is considered cosmetic.
6332 views
A 37-year-old member asked:
What are skin tags and what causes them?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Michael Fisher answered
Dermatology 32 years experience
Skin tags: Skin tags can occur almost anywhere on the body covered by skin. However, the two most common areas for skin tags are the neck and armpits. Other common areas for the development of skin tags include the eyelids, upper chest (particularly under the female breasts), buttock folds, and groin folds. Tags are typically thought to occur in characteristic friction locations where skin rubs against skin.
5890 views
A 40-year-old member asked:
What possible causes of skin tags are there?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Jeffrey Fromowitz answered
Dermatology 19 years experience
Genetics friction: Skin tags most commonly occur in areas of rubbing and / or friction. They also seem to be more common in certain individuals.
4910 views
A 42-year-old member asked:
What causes skin tags to suddenly appear?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Stephen Colbert answered
Plastic Surgery 22 years experience
Skin tags: Skin tags (acrochordons) are benign skin growths that are somewhat familial (genetic) and tend to occur in skin folds. We see more as people age and, naturally, in overweight people because of the skin folds. Problematic ones are treated with simple excision under local anesthesia.
4773 views
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Last updated Dec 26, 2018
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