Skin tags are not usually harmful. They are a non cancerous, or benign, piece of skin that hangs from the body. They differ in appearance on each patient. They may be the same color as the surrounding skin, or they could be darker. They can be very small or a little bit larger. Skin tags only become a problem if they are in an area that is regularly rubbed; skin tags can become irritated in these circumstances and you may want to consider having them removed. They can be removed easily and safely by your doctor or in hospital with a simple surgical procedure.

A skin tag can be removed by using liquid nitrogen to freeze it off or through a simple surgical procedure. This procedure will only usually involve a local anesthetic to numb the area around the skin tags although depending on the place and the size of skin tags a general anesthetic may be the preferred option.

While the operation is painless and very straightforward there is no need to have skin tags removed unless they are getting rubbed or irritated on a regular basis. You should seriously consider whether it is absolutely necessary before requesting a removal.

It is most common to find skin tags around the neck, upper chest, shoulders, armpits, eyelids and the groin. Wearing a collar or walking can skin tags that are in the wrong place and this is why most people consider removal. The removal is a very simple procedure that in some cases can be completed by your physician.

A skin tag is purely skin. There is an overlap of outer skin that encases an inner layer of skin. For this reason they are rarely harmful and any paid or discomfort from skin tags is usually because they have been rubbed or irritated regularly.