Conditions
Skin Tags
In the vacuous, celebrity-obsessed society we live in – where designer labels and the hullabaloo surrounding the latest fad is everything – you might think that skin tags sound like the ultimate ‘must-have’ bodily accessory. But you’d be wrong. In fact, when you consider their medical names – fibro-epithelial polyps or achondrochordons – they sound positively unappealing! Skin tags are soft lumps attached to the skin by a stalk. They are usually the same colour as your skin, under 0.5 cm in size, and often develop in the armpits, neck and groin. Around 50–60% of people over the age of 50 have them (although, younger people can develop them as well) and they sometimes run in families. They may look unsightly and can be a nuisance (catching on clothing or jewellery), but they are harmless and do not become cancerous. Furthermore, they can be easily removed by your GP.
Comments and Questions
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
i am 15 and i have about 32 skin tags on and around my eyes and u can see them and they are very unattractive one is right under my eyelash on the thin ledge....everytime i try get rid of them they come back...what can i do ? :/
i had a wart like spot at the top of my thigh but in the past two days has turned into a black skin tag,any ideas what this is?
i have some excess skin on the rim of my anus. its gets a little sore when wiping and it makes my anus harder to clean. is there a product to put on it. im scared to get them removed because the wound may get infected
id recommend skintagzap on ebay or skintagzap.co.uk I have used it and my friend recommended it to me- and i was very sceptical - however it worked - took a few days on small tags and I had some big ones too which took a couple of weeks but they vanished and no pain and not a mark. just an idea - good luck :)
I have a very unusual skin tag, well what i think is a skin tag around my vagina. it is pea size and looks abit bobbly and lumpy.Not nice at all but not painful. Any ideas? im so tempted to pull it off. Thank you
I have a skin tag at my anus which irritates me, I have a surgeon willing to remove it under local anaesthetic and says it is simple. I am worried about infection but he says he will give me antibiotics as a matter of course. I would rather have it removed as it has bothered me for 2 years. I have had a few operations and usually heal well. The surgeon however thinks I should leave it.
They are so easy to remove yourself . Tie fairly tightly with dental floss ( I used the ribbon type ) it doesn't need to hurt . Leave for 2 days tighten a little more if you can , again shouldn't hurt . Should turn browny / black may bleed a little . After two days connection to skin will be so thin you won't feel a thing to snip with scissor . I did this this week after much deliberation , best thing skin tag gone with minimal fuss and no discomfort .
Hello - I am a 50 year old male. I am serioulsy bothered by a mass or cluster of skin tags in my crotch (between scrodum & anus). In an area of less than 1 square inch, there are at least 50 of them and they are going on top of each other. The problem is; they absolutely sting at the slightest sign or sweat, i.e., walking for more than an hour at one time. I have been to the doctor twice and he perscibed me with Betnovate Ointment (for 2 weeks), followed by epaderm ointment for another 2 weeks. The end of the 4 weeks was basically a burnt crotch and the skin tags remained. My second visit I was told to repeat the proceedure ending up with the same result and the is black & blue like brusing with plenty of tags if not more. The result is an extremely sore crotch all the time, but eased with lanacain or baby powder for temp relief. Problem apart from the constant soreness is lack of excersize (or the want of it), piling on weight and now knee trouble. This has been happening for around 2 years now and my knee about 1 year. I have some photos of my crotch (taken with fibre-optics), if you are intrested. Can you please advise or help? I don't really want to go on your show,(with all dure respect), but if you can promise to do something directly to help me, end the suffering, then I would consider it as it is getting that bad. Kind Regards PM
Do skin tags hurt? I have two ssmall lumps right under (touching) the clitoris and I'm not sure what is it. I don't want to go see my gp becaise I don't know if they check down below. Also, its sore to touch and they're the colour of my skin, the lump on the right is slightly bigger than the one on the left.
Hi i have skin tags very small on my vagina. i have pulled one off and it was tiny but bled. there are not very many id say around 6 tops, but small and just between my anus and vagina they can be quite painful during sex. they cannot be anything sexual as i have only ever had one sexual partner and he doesnt have them. does anyone know what tese are or know a cure? im to embarassed to go to the doctors.
See your GP to refers to a surgical operation.I had two skin tags in between my anus and vagina very painful during and after sex.I got it removed through surgical operation.
Hi i have skin tags very small on my vagina. i have pulled one off and it was tiny but bled. there are not very many id say around 6 tops, but small and just between my anus and vagina they can be quite painful during sex. they cannot be anything sexual as i have only ever had one sexual partner and he doesnt have them. does anyone know what tese are or know a cure? im to embarassed to go to the doctors.
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here
The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.