Skin Tags

Skin Tags

Cause of Skin Tags

Skin tags usually occur on the neck, armpits and around the groin and can measure from a few millimetres up to about two inches wide.

They can develop in men and women and incidence increases with age and it is estimated that half the population will get a skin tag at some stage of their lives. They occur more regularly in pregnancy and are particularly common in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Their cause is not fully understood but it is believed that human papillomavirus (HPV), insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome may play a part.

Treatment for Skin Tags

They are not malignant or contagious but can cause irritation and chaffing. They are easily diagnosed by a GP but removal should be conducted by a dermatologist.

Skin tags can be snipped off with surgical scissors or treated with a laser to degrade the growth. Some can be treated with photodynamic therapy which involves an application of a chemical which is activated by a strong light resulting in the destruction of the skin tag.

They can also be frozen off or surgically removed under local anaesthetic.

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about our skin tags treatment then contact us today by phone on 0203 370 1026 or email dermatologyunit@hje.org.uk.