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Embarrassing Bodies , 9:00pm Friday 19th March 2010 on Channel 4. Catch up for free »

Conditions

Skin Tags

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

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.

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my 5 year old son keeps getting these little pimples in random places.they swell up after a while then drop off,hes getting fed up with them now.we have been to the doctor seveal times he said its a viral condition.its been going on for a year now we just want them to go away now .please can u give us any advice.





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hello im a 37year old woman i have a very lots of skin tags in my arm pits its so embarrassing and i cant shave in the area its very unpleasant for myself and others to see i would love to know how to get rid of them i also have a skin pigment near them and my arm pits smell of a very unpleasnat smell its not body odour ive tried everything possible i think can you recommend anything please.





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same with me they are just unsightly and i just feel like choppin it off!





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Hi, I have a skin tag on my vigina and would like some advise of getting it removed? It causes me no pain but its very noticeable. Its effecting my confidence. Thank you





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Hi I'm 33 with 3 kids. I have skin tags on my face and now on my neck. They started when I was about 16 but I had 2 or 3 then. Now I have loads on my face and they keep multiplying. I've been to see the GP Who sent me to see a dematologist all she did was trimm them down with a scissors. They are very unsightly and I was wondering if they is anyway to remove them. I am African. Thanks Lin





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ive been told 7yrs ago after i had my son that i had a skin tag around my anus by midwife,then more came after the next child 4yrs ago,now ive been told that they are perianal warts by a docotor,i have to get they remove by surgery,my husband has nothing,i havnt slept with anybody esle,im so confused,2 nurses told me they were skin tags,i had tags around my eyes,got them removed,but they just keep poping up everywhere,:(





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I have several annoying skin tags on my neck, which you say can be easily removed by my GMP.What would this entail? They are no bigger than 2-3mm





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please answer my question.i am so confused i think i have skin tags im confused if it is warts or not. But my bf went to the doctor and make a check up and doc said he is clean..its really embarassing i got couple outside my vagina.its light purple is this really skin tags?how do i get rid of it?please..:'(





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hello im 21 iv had a baby 2 years ago ever since iv got skin tag outside the vagina. is that normal? you cor chach it can you can i get them remove and how do i go about it





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hi i have lots of little skin tags on my neck. i used to have one biggish one on my neck but got it removed by my gp a couple of years ago but dont understand why i now have lots of little ones?





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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