Skin tags are usually harmless, but in some cases, they may cause pain due to constant friction. Several methods can help provide relief, such as cryotherapy or surgery.
Skin tags are small growths that are sometimes fixed onto the skin or dangling from it. They vary in color and may resemble your skin tone or have a pinkish or dark brown appearance.
Skin tags are usually harmless and don’t cause any pain. But some skin tags can hurt. If your skin tags are painful or you do not like the look of them, several methods can help. These involve removing the skin tag through treatment such as cryotherapy, where you freeze the skin tag, or through surgery.
Why do skin tags hurt?
Predrag Popovski/Getty Images
Skin tags are typically found where the skin folds or on an area of skin that experiences friction from clothing, jewelry, or another regularly worn accessory. This means they can often form in the neck, armpits, eyelids, groin, and breast area.
More than half of all adults have skin tags, which vary in size from 1 mm(millimeter) to 5 mm. Skin tags form mainly because of the aging process of the skin, which loses its elasticity over time. They can also develop due to genetic factors and different health conditions.
However, one of the main causes of skin tags is constant friction and irritation.
Because skin tags are located in skin folds or where the skin regularly rubs with clothing and jewelry, the constant friction can irritate the area. This can result in pain, itching, and bleeding.
In other cases, hanging skin tags, which are attached to the skin by a stalk, can be painful because they’re twisted due to friction. This twisting can lead to the formation of a small blood clot and become painful.
100% online care
Treatment plans in 15 minutes or less for 40+ conditions.
Skin tags are typically harmless. But some people may find they are painful or they don’t like the appearance of them, and would prefer to remove them. There are several ways to remove skin tags, which include:
tying a string around the skin tag to cut its blood supply
Don’t try to remove a skin tag yourself. If not done properly, it can leave scarring or lead to a skin infection. A healthcare professional can help you identify the safest and most effective treatment option.
Several over-the-counter (OTC) options can also help remove skin tags, such as Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Skin Tag Remover, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There are other OTC choices available to remove skin tags, such as Thuja occidentalis ointment and liquid. Thuja occidentalis is a type of pine tree. The oil from its leaves is used as a main ingredient to remove skin tags. This is a homeopathic treatment sold at pharmacies and retailers, but the FDA hasn’t evaluated it for its safety and efficacy.
Some people have considered using wart removal treatments, such as salicylic-acid-based creams and lotions, to get rid of skin tags. However, doctors do not recommend using wart removal medication to treat and remove skin tags because they can leave scarring.
If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Skin tags are usually benign, but sometimes they can be signs of serious health conditions like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and some genetic conditions. However, skin tags are noncancerous.
Consider speaking with a healthcare professional to see if your skin tags may be due to some of these conditions. They can also recommend treatment options if your skin tag is painful, irritated, or inflamed and you would like it removed.
When to speak with a doctor
It may be helpful to talk with a healthcare professional when you notice a change in size, shape, and color in a skin tag.
In any case, you may want to check with a healthcare professional to see if the skin tag is actually a tag, a mole, or a wart. These may have similarities in appearance, and a healthcare professional can help you identify them.
Summary
Skin tags are small growths on the skin that are either flat on the surface of the skin or round growths that are attached to the skin with a stalk.
Skin tags can vary in color, from skin-toned to pinkish to brown. They can be 1–5 mm in size and can grow. They are typically harmless.
However, they may cause pain, particularly due to constant friction and irritation. Skin tags typically form on the folds of the skin or where skin experiences regular friction due to clothing or jewelry.
You can relieve the pain by removing the skin tag through medical procedures like cauterization or cryotherapy. There are also OTC options, such as skin tag removers that freeze the skin tag, and herbal remedies like Thuja occidentalis oil.
Skin tags, which are usually benign, can sometimes be signs of other serious health conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if a skin tag is causing pain or if you are concerned that it may be a sign of an underlying health condition.
