Skin tags are benign lesions of the skin in areas of skin friction which should not be confused with moles. They are a fairly common skin condition. Skin tags are skin-colored or brown, small in size (1-2 mm), round and are often pedunculated and attached to a fleshy stalk. Rarely they can grow to be 1 to 2 centimeters in size, being bleeding or itching. They usually appear in groups close to each other. People frequently complain of skin tags getting caught on clothing or jewelry. Nevertheless it is considered a benign condition. Their incidence is about 50 to 60% in the general population while their prevalence in males and females has been reported to be equal.
Specific laboratory tests are advised as they have found to be associated with: lipid abnormalities, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, thyroid disease and genetic factors.
Skin tags are usually asymptomatic. However , they can be quite annoying in summer, as they can have an itchy and burning sensation and may lead to minor injuries or inflammation. Skin tags are recommended to be removed for both aesthetic and medical reasons in order reduce the risk of them spreading, bleeding or triggering further inflammation.
Commonly used methods of their removal include
- Snip excision
- Cautery
- Cryosurgery
- Laser Removal
