# "skin tags" medical question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276 "2003-07-04T19:25:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cedric45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@cedric45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedric45)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/1 "2003-07-04T19:25:38Z")
I’ve heard of (and seen) these small growths on some people’s skin being called “skin tags”. What are these things and what causes them? Are they related to warts? Moles? Is there any evidence that these things are bad for you or indicate other medical problems? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/2 "2003-07-04T19:54:50Z")
The exact causes are not clearly known, but they tend to appear most commonly (but not exclusively) in places where the skin is prone to rubbing and/or stretching - in the armpit, groin and neck. There is a weak statistical correlation between their occurrence and diabetes, also they are more likely to develop in people who are overweight. They are completely benign and can be ignored, but if they are troublesome or unsightly, then can be pulled, snipped, frozen or tied off, but they may grow back. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/3 "2003-07-04T21:42:49Z")
An earlier thread on the subject: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=167227](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=167227) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/4 "2003-07-05T01:09:47Z")
Yes, we did this dance a few months ago. If your skin tag has a price on it, see your doctor immediately. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/5 "2003-07-05T01:28:38Z")
The official info on [skin tags](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000848.htm) Basically, its just skin growing perpendicular to the usual direction. See link for the infrequent caveats. ---
**Author:** ![cedric45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@cedric45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedric45)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/6 "2003-07-05T12:15:44Z")
Wow, SDMB… the font of all knowledge! Has there ever been a question Dopers couldn’t answer? Thanks! (note to self: bookmark Google’s website) ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/7 "2003-07-05T12:42:45Z")
Also, pregnant women are prone to get a lot of them also in the chest area. Occasioonally they can be in the … child feeding area (I don’t know what the filters are here, forgive the euph) and actually have nerves causing pain when brushed lightly or rubbed. It’s been my experience that even the painful ones can eventually be removed with enough yanking, twisting, and rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-tags-medical-question/186276/8 "2003-07-05T18:29:33Z")
I get them on occasion, and so does my husband. Generally I just clean a pair of very sharp cuticle scissors and snip off the tags. Then I put a bit of astringent on the wound and watch it for a couple of days. I’ve never had a complication from this home surgery. However, I am not a doctor, your mileage may vary, and all those other standard disclaimers.