How to Get Rid of Skin Tags the Right Way, According to Expert Dermatologists

Skin tag removal is pretty common. Research published in StatPearls in 2023 estimates that up to 60% of us will get at least one of these fleshy little skin growths at least once in our lifetime.

Skin tags (also called acrochordons) are technically tiny, benign tumors, but they’re generally not a cause for concern. Still, it’s worth checking in with your doctor if you notice them crop up. Skin tags could be a sign of diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated heart disease risk, and metabolic syndrome, according to the StatPearls research.

Most people will want to know how to remove skin tags simply because they don’t like their appearance or, depending on where they appear on your body, the hanging bits of skin can be irritating. Here’s what dermatologists want you to know if you’re looking to get rid of these growths.

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What are skin tags?

Skin tags look like small bumps of tissue that extend out from your skin—typically thinner at the base and wider at the top, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic.

“They look like a little out-pouching of skin,” adds Jennifer Gordon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, TX. “They have a fibrovascular stalk surrounded by flattened skin cells and like to occur in areas that rub—the neck, under the arms, in the groin, and around the eyes,” she explains.

But they’re not one-size-fits-all: Skin tags are often the same color as your skin but can appear darker or look like a raised mole.

Why do you get skin tags?

People prone to skin tags will most likely see them pop up later in life, though they can occur at all ages. Genetics probably plays a role in skin tag development, according to Dr. Gordon. But weight gain, pregnancy, and diabetes are also known to trigger these noncancerous skin growths, too. 

Friction can also cause skin tags to grow over time, which is why they’re most common in areas like the armpit, neck, and groin. According to the StatPearls research, the normal aging process is often to blame—as our skin loses elasticity with age, it’s more prone to skin-on-skin rubbing. People who are overweight tend to have more friction in skin folds, too, which can lead to skin tags. 

However, jewelry, other accessories, or tight-fitting clothing can also cause this friction—even excessive sweating in areas prone to skin tags can contribute to their formation, per 2024 research published in Discover Medicine. 

Yet while irritation from friction is a common cause, the StatPearls research also points to studies that suggest skin tags can form due to: 

• Hormone imbalances (such as during pregnancy or menopause in women)
• Certain genetic disorders 
• The human papillomavirus (HPV) 
• Chronic conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic conditions

Dr. Gordon says no one cause can be pinpointed in most cases of skin tags. But studies have found some patterns, according to Tonia Yee Vinton, MD, an endocrinologist at UT Southwestern who specializes in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and preventative medicine. 

“The location of skin tags may be important,” she explains. “They are more commonly seen in the axilla (armpit area), neck, left side of the neck, and in the trunk in people with obesity compared to people with normal weight.”

In addition, a prevalence of mixed-color skin tags is more often found among people with obesity or diabetes, she says.  

How to remove skin tags

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Skin tag removal isn’t something that should be done in your bathroom at home. Many people will look up how to get rid of skin tags on the Internet and try to do it themselves, but you should always go to a dermatologist to have them removed.

People have used all kinds of unconventional methods for skin tag removal on their own, says Anthony Rossi, MD, FAAD, FACMS, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He’s heard of people tying strings around them, burning them, trying to pick them off with their fingers, and even slamming books against them. “It’s wild what people will do,” he says.

A dermatologist, on the other hand, can snip away skin tags quickly and cleanly. Sounds like you can learn how to get rid of skin tags yourself, right? Not so fast. “It’s like when people try to cut their own hair,” says Dr. Rossi. “It never goes the way they want it to.”

For one thing, dermatologists have sterile instruments, but using your own could lead to an infection. Plus, while derms can use local anesthesia and have supplies to stop the blood, you could bleed uncontrollably with at-home methods for skin tag removal.

Don’t trust drugstore remedies

Even over-the-counter medications claiming to dissolve skin tags could be bad news, too, says Dr. Rossi. “You could burn the skin or make marks. There could be unintended consequences,” he says. If you hate the idea of anyone snipping your skin, ask a doctor to freeze or burn it instead.

But there’s an even bigger reason you should visit an expert. After dermatologists remove a growth, they’ll look at it under a microscope. “There are things that look like skin tags but are cancerous,” says Dr. Rossi. That doesn’t mean you should freak out if you do find a skin tag. Most will just be benign, but you won’t know for sure until you’ve asked.

Plus, checking a skin tag is a “good excuse” to get your doctor to check the rest of your body for skin cancer and atypical or malignant growths, says Dr. Rossi.

Are skin tags dangerous?

“Although skin tags are harmless findings, they may indicate an increased risk for diabetes,” Dr. Vinton says. Skin tags might suggest insulin resistance, she says, a condition where the body does not utilize insulin effectively and is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. 

“Generally, studies have found that elevated insulin levels may induce various tissue cells to form skin tags through activation of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I),” she explains. These skin tags can occur anywhere, but an increase in skin tags around the neck and axillae (your armpit area) is most strongly associated with insulin resistance. 

“Skin tags have also been found to be associated with other medical conditions, including metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, colonic polyps, and acromegaly (a condition that causes your body to produce too much growth hormone),” Dr. Vinton notes.

That said, even run-of-the-mill skin tags can cause problems. “Skin tags can become strangulated and painful, as well as infected at times,” Dr. Gordon says. “If this happens, removal is recommended and a visit to your dermatologist to make sure antibiotics are not needed.” 

Can you prevent skin tags?

“You cannot completely prevent skin tags,” says Farah Moustafa, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist and the Director of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center. But there are some things that may help reduce their development. 

“As friction or rubbing is thought to be a contributing factor, minimizing this can be helpful,” she says. “This includes limiting jewelry along the neckline, wearing loose-fitting clothing, and weight loss to avoid skin-on-skin rubbing.” 

In fact, Dr. Vinton says, “Studies have found that skin tags were detected more often among people with obesity compared to normal weight participants.”

That’s why the StatPearls research emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, diet, and exercise routine. These lifestyle changes not only lower the risk of obesity and diabetes but also help with preventing skin tag formation. 

The research also points to studies that show syndet cleansers (a mild type of soap often recommended by dermatologists) and proper moisturizing have been shown to prevent skin tags and reduce complications from existing skin tags, such as irritation or infection.

When to see a doctor for skin growths

“You should see a board-certified dermatologist if you have a skin tag that becomes irritated, bleeds, becomes painful, or if you suddenly develop many skin tags all at once,” Dr. Moustafa says. If any skin growth changes in size, color, itches, bleeds, or has asymmetrical shape, you should have a dermatologist evaluate the skin tag right away, adds Dr. Vinton. 

“Your physician can evaluate them and determine if they are skin tags or another type of growth, as they can sometimes be confused with warts or skin cancer,” Dr. Moustafa says.

If you find an increase in skin tags—especially on the neck and in the armpit area—Dr. Vinton says to ask your primary care provider to do a screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, as these skin tags could be a sign of insulin resistance. 

Still, in general, skin tags are usually cosmetic concerns, she says. “But if they are bothersome [or you just don’t like the appearance], a doctor can remove them by using cryotherapy, electrocautery, or laser therapy.”

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