A skin tag is a small, soft, benign (non-cancerous) growth that hangs off the skin, often attached by a thin stalk called a peduncle. They are typically flesh-colored or slightly darker and feel soft to the touch. Skin tags commonly appear in areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, armpits, eyelids, under the breasts, groin, and sometimes near the anus. They range in size from a few millimeters up to about 5 centimeters, though most are about the size of a grain of rice
. Medically, skin tags are also called acrochordons, fibroepithelial polyps, or soft fibromas. Microscopically, they consist of a core of fibrovascular tissue (connective tissue and blood vessels) covered by normal skin
. Skin tags are very common and usually harmless and painless. They do not typically require treatment unless they become irritated, painful, bleed, or cause cosmetic concerns. Removal options include cutting, freezing, or heat treatment, but self-removal is not recommended due to risks of infection and scarring
. Causes are not always clear but often relate to skin friction, hormonal changes (such as pregnancy), obesity, or conditions like type 2 diabetes
. In summary, a skin tag is a common, benign skin growth that forms where skin rubs together, usually causing no harm but sometimes removed for comfort or cosmetic reasons.
