What causes skin tags, and can I remove them myself?
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS
Skin tags grow where skin rubs skin: neck, armpits, groin, under breasts. Friction, genetics and weight contribute, and numerous tags associate with insulin resistance, worth a sugar check if they multiply.
They are harmless, but home removal with threads, clippers or acid kits invites bleeding, infection and scarring, and burns the bridge of having the spot checked first.
A clinician removes them in moments and, importantly, confirms each is actually a tag; a few skin cancers do fine impressions of them. Snug spots that catch on jewelry are legitimate reasons for removal, not vanity.
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