Skin tags (acrochordons)

Skin tags are growths that hang from your skin — your doctor might call them 'acrochordons'. They can be from 1mm to 1cm in size.

Skin tags are made of collagen (a type of protein) and blood vessels surrounded by skin. They usually grow in the folds of your skin, where the skin rubs together, such as in your:

Most skin tags are painless and don't cause any symptoms. But if they rub on your clothing or jewellery, they may get sore and bleed.

Skin tags have a small stalk that attaches them to your skin. This makes them look different from warts and other skin sores. Warts tend to be flat, while skin tags hang off the skin.

The exact cause of skin tags is not known It's likely to be due to both lifestyle and genetic causes.

You are more likely to get skin tags in areas where the skin tends to rub against itself.

Some health conditions are thought to increase your chance of getting skin tags, such as:

• overweight and obesity
• diabetes
• pregnancy

Anyone of any gender can develop skin tags and they are more common in older people. Skin tags that develop during pregnancy usually disappear after your baby is born.

Always speak to a doctor when you notice a new spot of growth on your skin.

It's important that your doctor examines you to check for signs of skin cancer and other skin conditions.

Speak to your doctor to learn more about skin tag removal options.

Your doctor will diagnose skin tags by asking you some questions and examining your skin. In most cases, you won't need medical tests or scans.

There's no medical need to remove a skin tag. Skin tags can sometimes drop off by themselves over time.

If you decide to have a skin tag removed — talk to your doctor.

Your doctor can remove the skin tags by:

• freezing them with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy)
• cutting them off with surgical scissors or a scalpel (excision)
• burning them with electrical energy (hyfrecation)

Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist (skin doctor) to have it removed.

It's not a good idea to remove skin tags yourself since they can:

• bleed heavily
• get infected
• lead to scarring

There are skin tag removal kits available online. However, these kits are unapproved and can cause serious skin injuries.

Skin tags can't be fully prevented. You can, however, lower your chances of them by keeping a healthy body weight with a balanced diet and exercise.

The Australasian College of Dermatologists provides information about the symptoms, causes and removal of skin tags.

The Cancer Council factsheet on skin cancer outlines signs and symptoms, causes and treatment. It is important to check your skin regularly and check with your doctor if you notice any changes.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.