What are skin tags and how can I get rid of them?

The ageing process has its downsides, the majority of them health-related. Skin tags, for example, tend to appear when people get over 50, and are commonplace, happening in around 1 in 2 adults.

The number of these small growths that may develop varies from one to hundreds, and skin tags can also differ in size.

What are skin tags?

Skin tags are growths on the skin usually suspended on a slender stalk. They consist of loose collagen (protein) fibres, and blood vessels surrounded by skin. They're harmless, and unlike, say, warts, are non-contagious. However, they can be removed by a private skin specialist if you find them unsightly.

Dr Zainab Laftah, a consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation explains that skin tags are benign lesions.

"They do not cause any pain or discomfort," she says. "Unless at places of friction - such as joints - where they may become inflamed."

What do skin tags look like?

Skin tags are smooth, soft, skin-coloured skin lesions frequently found on your neck, armpits, around your groin, under your breasts and on your eyelids.

Skin tags can vary in colour and size from a few millimetres up to 5 centimetres - around 2 inches - wide and hang off your skin.

What causes skin tags?

The cause of skin tags is unknown. However, because they tend to grow at sites where your skin rubs against itself. They more commonly affect overweight people, who may have too many skin folds and skin chafing.

Are skin tags from HPV?

Some studies suggest a possible link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the development of skin tags. However, further research is needed to confirm the specific role of HPV in their formation.

Can pregnancy cause skin tags?

The chance of developing skin tags increases during pregnancy. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes and increased levels of growth factors. In rare cases, multiple skin tags can be a sign of a hormone imbalance or an endocrine issue.

Are skin tags a sign of diabetes?

Skin tags are common in people with high resistance to insulin - the major factor underlying type 2 diabetes. A 2010 study in Brazil, found that the presence of multiple skin tags was associated with insulin resistance, a high body mass index (BMI), and high triglycerides - a type of fat in your blood.

Are skin tags dangerous?

Skin tags are harmless - they do not cause any pain and are not a sign of skin cancer. For some people, skin tags have an impact on their self-esteem, so skin tag removal is always an option.

How to remove skin tags

In general, skin tags don’t require treatment, and sometimes smaller skin tags fall off on their own. However, you may consider having your skin tags removed for either cosmetic reasons or if they snag on your clothing or jewellery.

If they are causing you problems, a private health care professional can discuss possible removal methods with you - these include:

• Cutting them off.

• Using heat.

• Freezing them

Speak to a doctor about your best options.

Risks of removing skin tags at home

Whilst there is a range of skin tag removal products and techniques to buy over the counter - bands, creams, and, sprays - you should never attempt to remove skin tags yourself.

There are significant health hazards associated with trying to remove a skin tag at home - not least of all because there's no guarantee of the safety of the products.

Surgical skin tag removal

Remember, you should always seek expert medical advice if you are concerned about a skin tag or any other skin lesion. If you have decided to have a skin tag removed, several straightforward procedures are available. However, they may not be available through the NHS, and you may need to go private.

Laftah says: "Skin tags are easily treated with common removal procedures such as cauterisation (burnt off), cryotherapy (frozen off) or excision (cut out). These procedures should be carried out by a trained medical professional. The potential health hazards include infection, bleeding, scarring and recurrence.