What Causes Skin Tags?

A skin tag is a small, soft growth that extends from the surface of the skin.

Many are attached by a narrow stalk, which can make them look like they're hanging from the skin.

They may be flesh-colored, slightly darker than the surrounding skin, or occasionally become darker if they are irritated or twisted.

Skin tags contain skin tissue, collagen fibers, and small blood vessels.

They're usually tiny, although some become larger over time.

Most importantly, skin tags are generally harmless.

They aren't contagious, and having a skin tag doesn't mean you have a skin infection.

There isn't one single cause.

One of the strongest everyday contributors appears to be friction.

That's why skin tags frequently develop where skin surfaces repeatedly rub against one another.

Think about the neck, armpits, groin, inner thighs, or underneath the breasts.

Clothing and jewelry may add additional friction.

But friction isn't the whole explanation.

Some people are simply more likely to develop skin tags than others, and genetics may play a role.

They also become more common as we get older.

So if you suddenly notice that you have more skin tags in your 40s or 50s than you did in your 20s, that isn't unusual.

This is where skin tags become a little more interesting medically.

Research has found associations between multiple skin tags and metabolic conditions, including insulin resistance, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.

That doesn't mean:

Skin tag = diabetes.

Plenty of people develop skin tags without having diabetes or insulin resistance.

But if someone suddenly develops numerous skin tags and also has other risk factors—such as increased waist circumference, a strong family history of diabetes, abnormal blood sugar, or dark, thickened, velvety areas of skin—a provider may consider whether metabolic screening is appropriate.

Those darker velvety patches, often found around the neck or underarms, can sometimes represent acanthosis nigricans, which is associated with insulin resistance.

A skin tag by itself usually isn't concerning.

The overall pattern may occasionally tell us more.

Pregnancy brings major hormonal and physical changes.

As the body changes, increased skin-to-skin friction can occur in areas such as the neck, breasts, underarms, and groin.

Hormonal changes may also contribute to the development of skin tags during pregnancy.

Some women notice new skin tags during pregnancy that remain afterward, while others may become smaller after delivery.

In most cases, they are harmless.

If a growth appears unusual, changes rapidly, bleeds repeatedly, or you're uncertain whether it's actually a skin tag, have it evaluated.

Not completely.

You can't control genetics, age, or every hormonal change.

Reducing repeated friction may help in some areas, but even people without significant friction can develop skin tags.

Maintaining a healthy weight and addressing insulin resistance when present may support overall metabolic health, but these measures don't guarantee that skin tags will disappear or stop forming.

Be cautious of online claims promising to “detox” your body or eliminate the underlying cause of skin tags.

Skin tags are common benign growths—not evidence that your body needs to be cleansed.

It's tempting.

Especially when a skin tag catches on a necklace, bra strap, razor, or clothing.

But cutting, burning, tying off, or applying harsh chemicals to a skin growth at home can cause bleeding, infection, burns, scarring, or injury to healthy skin.

There's another problem:

You may be treating something that isn't actually a skin tag.

Warts, moles, seborrheic keratoses, and other skin growths can sometimes be mistaken for skin tags.

Rarely, a more concerning skin lesion can also be misidentified.

Before trying to remove a growth yourself, it's safer to make sure you know what it is.

A skin tag can occasionally twist on its stalk and lose its blood supply.

When that happens, it may become red, purple, dark brown, or black and may eventually fall off.

Irritation from clothing or shaving can also cause swelling or bleeding.

However, don't assume every new dark or changing skin growth is a dying skin tag.

A lesion that changes color, shape, size, or appearance deserves evaluation—especially if you're not certain it was a skin tag to begin with.

Talk with a healthcare provider if:

• You're unsure whether a growth is actually a skin tag.

• A growth is rapidly increasing in size.

• It changes significantly in color or shape.

• It repeatedly bleeds without obvious irritation.

• It becomes persistently painful or inflamed.

• You suddenly develop many new skin growths.

• The lesion looks different from your other skin tags.

• A growth develops in an unusual location.

• You have skin changes along with other possible signs of insulin resistance or diabetes.

Seek prompt evaluation for a skin lesion that is rapidly changing, persistently bleeding, ulcerated, unusually pigmented, or otherwise significantly different from your other spots.

Not every bump on your skin requires an office visit, but not every bump should automatically be labeled a skin tag either.

Through CallOnDoc's secure asynchronous online medical evaluation, you can provide information about your skin concern, when it appeared, whether it has changed, your symptoms, medications, and relevant medical history without routinely scheduling a live video appointment.

When clinically appropriate, a licensed healthcare provider can help determine whether a skin concern may be suitable for telehealth evaluation or whether it needs an in-person examination or dermatology assessment.

If your skin changes occur alongside other symptoms or metabolic risk factors, your provider may also recommend appropriate testing or follow-up.

And if a growth needs removal, biopsy, or closer examination, we'll direct you toward appropriate in-person care.

Because with skin growths, the first question isn't always:

“How do I get rid of it?”

Sometimes it's:

“Are we sure what it is?”

Are skin tags dangerous?

Usually not. Skin tags are benign growths and generally don't require treatment unless they become irritated, bothersome, or there is uncertainty about the diagnosis.

Are skin tags caused by diabetes?

Not directly. Skin tags can occur in people without diabetes. However, having multiple skin tags has been associated with insulin resistance and metabolic conditions in some studies.

Why am I suddenly getting more skin tags?

Skin tags become more common with age. Friction, weight changes, pregnancy, genetics, and metabolic factors may also contribute.

Are skin tags contagious?

No. Skin tags aren't contagious and can't be spread from one person to another.

Can I cut off a skin tag myself?

Home removal can cause bleeding, infection, scarring, or injury. More importantly, a growth that looks like a skin tag may actually be another type of skin lesion.

Do skin tags need to be removed?

Usually not. Removal may be considered when a skin tag is repeatedly irritated, catches on clothing or jewelry, causes discomfort, or is cosmetically bothersome after the diagnosis has been confirmed.

Skin tags can seem like they suddenly appear out of nowhere.

But they're incredibly common.

Friction, aging, genetics, pregnancy, body changes, and metabolic factors may all play a role in why some people develop more of them than others.

Most are completely harmless.

And one or two skin tags don't mean something is wrong with your health.

The important thing is recognizing when a spot doesn't behave like a typical skin tag.

If it's rapidly changing, repeatedly bleeding, painful, unusually colored, or simply doesn't look like your other spots, don't diagnose it based on an internet photo.

Have it checked.

Because most skin tags are nothing to worry about—but knowing what you're actually looking at matters.