[Dr. Belleview Column 74.] Why You Shouldn’t Leave Skin Tags on Your Neck Alone

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Dear everyone who visited Belleview Clinic! Today, we’d like to talk about ‘skin tags,’ those small bumps that rise above the skin and can be visually bothersome. They often appear on the face, neck, chest, and other areas. In many cases, skin tags are removed for the simple reason of wanting to improve appearance because they are not aesthetically pleasing. But are skin tags only a cosmetic inconvenience? Or could there be other hidden risks related to our health?

To give you the clear answer first: most skin tags are benign tumors that are harmless to the human body, and they very rarely pose a direct threat to health. Nevertheless, in certain situations they can cause small or large inconveniences in everyday life, and in rare cases they may signal the overall condition of our body. Today, we will go through why skin tags appear on our skin, step by step, and take a detailed look at their various aspects that go beyond purely cosmetic concerns and connect with health.

1. What exactly are skin tags, and why do they appear on the skin?

A skin tag (or, in medical terms, acrochordon) refers to a very soft benign skin tumor that protrudes from the outermost layer of the skin. It most commonly occurs in areas where skin folds and rubs together frequently, such as the back of the neck, armpits, groin, and eyelids. Their size also varies widely, from as small as a sesame seed to as large as a pea. They may appear flesh-colored, similar to the skin tone, or sometimes brownish.

The exact cause of why skin tags develop in our bodies has not yet been clearly identified. However, it is believed that several factors work together to contribute to their formation.

• Continuous skin friction: Skin tags are especially likely to form in areas where skin rubs against skin or is repeatedly irritated by collars, underwear, and similar clothing.

• Natural aging: As time passes and we get older, skin elasticity decreases and cell proliferation activity becomes more active, so skin tags are observed more commonly.

• Genetic influence: If someone in your family has skin tags, you also tend to have a relatively higher chance of developing them.

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy: Many cases show a temporary increase in the number of skin tags during pregnancy due to sudden hormonal changes.

• Association with obesity: People with a higher body weight are known to have a greater risk of developing skin tags because skin friction becomes more severe and metabolic issues such as insulin resistance may also be present.

2. The “non-cosmetic side” of skin tags: risks to health and everyday inconveniences

As mentioned earlier, most skin tags are purely benign tumors that have no possibility of turning into cancer. Also, in many cases they do not cause any particular pain or unusual symptoms, so from a medical standpoint there is often no need to remove them. However, beyond simply being a cosmetic issue, they do require careful attention in some respects.

1. Possible unexpected inconvenience and pain

• Inflammation caused by physical irritation: If a skin tag is repeatedly rubbed by external objects such as collars, fabric necklaces, or bra straps, inflammation may develop in the surrounding area, leading to unpleasant symptoms such as itching or stinging. In more severe cases, the skin tag itself may twist or become constricted, preventing proper blood circulation and causing necrosis or significant pain.

• Bleeding due to external impact: Unexpected external stimulation, such as scratching or tearing, can cause bleeding from a skin tag.

• Risk of secondary bacterial infection: If a skin tag is wounded, bacteria can enter through the area and cause secondary infection, such as pus formation or swelling, so special hygiene care is required.

If persistent discomfort or pain accompanies a skin tag, then even though it does not directly harm your health, considering removal proactively may be a wise choice to improve your quality of life.

Source: X

2. Possibility of being a “silent signal” of a certain health condition

Even though the skin tag itself is harmless, if skin tags suddenly appear in large numbers, if existing ones rapidly grow larger, or if they appear concentrated in a specific part of the body, this may be a kind of “warning signal” representing a particular health condition in the body.

• Association with insulin resistance or diabetes: In particular, if many skin tags appear on the neck or armpits and are accompanied by a symptom called acanthosis nigricans, in which the skin becomes velvety, rough, and dark, this is highly likely to be a potential precursor to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance means that the body’s blood sugar regulation function is impaired, which carries the risk of developing into diabetes over time. In such cases, it is very important not only to remove the skin tags but also to undergo a thorough health checkup, including blood sugar testing.

• Interaction with obesity: As mentioned above, obesity is not only a direct factor that increases skin friction, but is also closely related to metabolic problems such as insulin resistance, which can raise the risk of skin tag development. Therefore, if many skin tags appear, it is recommended to pay closer attention to weight management.

• Indicator of metabolic syndrome: Research findings continue to show that various metabolic syndrome factors, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, dyslipidemia, and abdominal obesity, are associated with the development of skin tags.

So rather than dismissing skin tags as a simple skin problem, it is wise to use them as an important opportunity to check whether there may be other subtle changes in your body and to assess your overall health condition.

Skin tags on the neck

3. The need for accurate differentiation from other skin conditions

Although skin tags are mostly benign tumors, in very rare cases they may look visually similar to malignant tumors, that is, skin cancer. In particular, if they show the following unusual features, you should not hesitate to visit a dermatologist immediately.

• Rapid change in size or irregular shape: The skin tag suddenly becomes noticeably larger, or its shape changes to become irregular compared with before.

• Unusual color change: The color becomes abnormally darker, or multiple colors appear within a single lesion.

• Accompanied by itching, pain, or bleeding: Itching, pain, or bleeding that was not previously present occurs at the site of the skin tag.

• Unclear borders or spread to the surrounding area: The lesion’s borders become blurry, or it gradually spreads to the surrounding skin.

It is very difficult to accurately distinguish a skin tag from other serious skin diseases with the naked eye alone. Therefore, if there is even the slightest suspicious skin lesion, it is most important not to rely on self-diagnosis but to receive an accurate diagnosis from a dermatologist. If necessary, a biopsy can also be performed to clearly determine the nature of the lesion.

3. How are skin tags removed?

Most skin tags can be removed very simply using medical equipment such as a carbon dioxide laser (CO2 laser). If the skin tag is small and there are only a few of them, they can be neatly removed in a single procedure, and because local anesthesia is administered before the procedure, there is almost no pain. After removal, a small scab forms, and it naturally falls off within a few days as the skin heals.

Never attempt self-removal! Trying to tie off a skin tag at home with thread or remove it using unprofessional tools such as nail clippers can lead to unpredictable and serious side effects, including inflammation, severe infection, unsightly scarring, and permanent pigmentation. In any case, such self-removal should absolutely be avoided.

Skin tags are usually little more than a minor source of stress, but sometimes they can be subtle signals indicating an imbalance in the body or changes in health. In particular, if the number of skin tags suddenly increases, if they appear concentrated in certain areas, or if suspicious symptoms such as changes in size, color, or bleeding occur, it is very important to seek prompt consultation and receive an accurate diagnosis and any necessary tests.

Today’s article ends here.

Thank you for reading.

This has been Dr. Belleview~!

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