Skin Tag Removal

What are skin tags?

Skin tags are small, usually harmless (benign) skin growths. Skin tags are very common skin growths and typically occur after midlife. Skin tags are usually painless and do not grow or change, however, they may be irritated from rubbing by clothing or other materials. Skin tags are thought to occur from skin rubbing against skin, so they commonly form in skin folds. Some individuals may be more prone to tags (greater than 50-100 tags) either through increased weight, heredity, or other unknown causes. Males and females are equally prone to developing skin tags.

What are the symptoms?

The only symptom of skin tags is a growth on the skin. The growth, or tag, is usually small, although some may be up to a half-inch long. Other characteristics of skin tags include:

• Location on the neck, armpits, trunk, body folds, or other areas
• May have a narrow stalk
• Usually skin-colored, occasionally darker

What is the treatment?

Visit a Take Care Health Provider for a complete evaluation of your skin tags and to determine the appropriate number of skin tags that can be removed in one visit. A topical treatment may be applied to ease any minor bleeding. Any skin tags that include an infected area should first be treated medically to resolve the infection prior to skin tag removal. Take Care Clinics^SM will refer any skin tags on the face or genital area to a specialist or primary care provider for further evaluation and treatment.