Key takeaways
- Skin tags (acrochordons) are benign growths made of loose collagen and blood vessels covered by skin. They are very common and usually painless.
- They appear in skin folds and friction areas, and are more common with obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and pregnancy.
- Many skin tags, especially with a dark velvety neck, can be a clue to insulin resistance and are worth a blood sugar check.
- Removal is by snipping, freezing, electrosurgery (cautery) or tying off, usually in one short visit.
- Do not cut or tie them at home. On brown skin, removal can leave a dark or light mark, so it should be done carefully.
What are skin tags?
Skin tags are small, soft growths that hang off the skin, often on a thin stalk. DermNet describes them as made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels covered by the outer skin, ranging from about 1 mm to 5 cm. They are skin-coloured or slightly darker. The NHS describes them as very common and typically harmless.
Where they grow tells you a lot: - Neck, especially along the collar line and where chains sit - Underarms - Eyelids - Under the breasts - Groin and inner thighs
These are all places where skin rubs on skin, or on clothes and jewellery.
Why do I keep getting skin tags?
See, what happens is, friction and growth signals in the body together encourage these little flaps. DermNet and the NHS both note that skin tags are more common with: - Obesity and skin folds - Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance - Pregnancy, when growth factor levels are high - Age, they increase as we get older
There may also be a family tendency. Some have been linked with a wart virus, though most are not.
That is very important to understand for Indian patients. If you have many skin tags on the neck, especially with a dark, velvety neck (acanthosis nigricans), it can be a sign of insulin resistance. I often suggest a blood sugar and HbA1c test in that situation. Insulin resistance is common in Indians even at a normal-looking weight. Treating it does not remove existing tags, but it is good for your health, and may slow new ones. If weight is part of the picture, our doctor-led weight programme is one option. Read more in dark neck and what it says about your health.
Do skin tags need to be removed?
No, not for health reasons, unless they are a problem. People normally want them removed because: - They catch on chains, collars, bra straps or a razor. - They bleed or get irritated when snagged. - They are on the eyelids or neck and bother you cosmetically.
The NHS suggests seeing a doctor if a skin tag gets bigger, becomes painful, bleeds, or you develop many of them. Also get it checked if a growth you think is a skin tag is dark, hard, irregular or changing, because not every bump is a skin tag. See moles: when to get one checked.
How are skin tags removed?
| Method | How it is done | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snip excision | The tag is cut off at the base with sterile fine scissors | Quick for tags on a stalk; may need a numbing cream or injection |
| Cautery (electrosurgery) | A fine electrical tip seals and removes the tag | Useful for small and many tags; small scab heals in days |
| Cryotherapy (freezing) | Liquid nitrogen freezes the tag, which falls off later | Can leave a light patch on brown skin |
| Ligation | A thread is tied at the base to cut off blood supply | Less commonly used now in clinic |
| Radio frequency or laser | Energy device removes the tag | Similar to cautery in practice |
Removal is usually done in one visit. Many small tags can be removed at the same sitting. Normally the area is numbed first, so most people feel little more than a pinch.
The NHS notes that removal can cause scarring or a change in skin colour, sometimes lasting, especially on black or brown skin. In my practice, I pick the method and the energy level for each tag, and I am particularly careful around the eyes and on darker necks.
What is the aftercare?
- Keep the area clean and dry for a day or so.
- Apply the ointment you are given, usually for a few days.
- Do not pick the scabs. Let them fall off on their own, usually within one to two weeks.
- Avoid chains, tight collars or friction on the spots while they heal.
- Use sunscreen on exposed areas like the neck and face for a few weeks to reduce dark marks.
Removed tags usually do not grow back, but new ones may appear elsewhere over time, especially if the underlying cause, such as friction or insulin resistance, continues.
Why not remove them at home?
Basically, because of bleeding, infection and scarring. Tags have their own blood supply and can bleed more than you expect. Tying thread or dental floss, cutting with nail clippers, and "skin tag removal" creams and patches bought online can all lead to infection, raw wounds and dark marks on brown skin. The NHS advises not to remove a skin tag yourself unless a doctor recommends it.
And sometimes what looks like a tag is something else, such as a wart, a mole, or a small seborrhoeic keratosis. Those need a different approach. See warts: causes, spread and removal.
How we approach this at Dr Tvacha
Removal of unwanted growths such as skin tags and warts is part of our skin services at our Thane, Andheri, Bandra and Dahisar centres. At a Rs 499 skin consultation I confirm what the growths are, check whether any need a closer look, and suggest a blood sugar test if the pattern suggests insulin resistance. You get the removal method and fee in writing before anything is done. The approach is on the Second Layer Skin Plan page, and the centre details are on our centres page.
Frequently asked questions
Are skin tags a sign of diabetes?
Not always, but they are more common in people with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. If you have many skin tags, especially on the neck with a dark, velvety neck, it is reasonable to check blood sugar and HbA1c. Many people with skin tags have normal results. Treating insulin resistance is good for your health even though it does not remove existing tags.
Do skin tags grow back after removal?
A tag that has been removed properly from its base usually does not grow back in the same spot. New tags can appear in other places over time, especially in areas of friction or if weight, insulin resistance or pregnancy are involved. Reducing friction from chains and tight collars and managing blood sugar may slow new ones.
Does skin tag removal leave a mark?
Usually only a small mark that fades over weeks. On brown skin, there is a chance of a dark or light spot, which can occasionally last, and the NHS notes this risk. Choosing the right method and energy, gentle aftercare, not picking the scab and using sunscreen on exposed areas all reduce it. Eyelid and neck tags need extra care.
Can I tie a thread around a skin tag to remove it?
I advise against it. Tying a thread or floss can cause pain, infection and raw wounds, and it may not remove the tag completely. Cutting with scissors or nail clippers at home can bleed more than expected. Also, a growth that looks like a tag may be something else. A doctor can confirm it and remove it in a few minutes, with sterile tools.
Are skin tags contagious?
No. Ordinary skin tags are not contagious and do not spread from person to person. Warts, which can look similar, are caused by a virus and can spread with contact, shaving or threading. If you are not sure whether a bump is a tag or a wart, get it checked before removing it, because the treatment and precautions are different.
Written by
Dr Amit KarkhanisAesthetic Physician · MBBS, Dip. Dermatology (UK) · Reg. No. 2001/02/1124Founder of Dr Tvacha, practising in Thane since 2005. Leads the weight loss and hair programmes.
Sources
This article is for general education and does not replace a consultation. Medicines and treatments are prescribed only after a doctor's assessment. Last reviewed 25 October 2026.