Flesh-colored bumps on your neck or armpits are often skin tags, medically known as acrochordons or soft fibromas. These small, harmless skin growths typically develop in areas where skin folds, including the neck, armpits, eyelids, groin, and under the breasts.
Though they usually don’t cause pain or health issues, skin tags can be annoying or cosmetically unappealing for many. Wondering why they appear and what the safest removal options are? Here’s an expert-backed guide to everything you need to know.
Why Do Skin Tags Develop?
Skin tags consist of collagen and blood vessels covered by skin. Their appearance can be influenced by various factors, with some of the most common causes including:
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Friction and Skin Rubbing:
Repeated friction from clothing or natural body movement, especially in folds like the neck and armpits, often triggers skin tags. -
Genetic Predisposition:
If skin tags run in your family, you’re more prone to developing them. -
Hormonal Fluctuations:
Hormonal shifts during pregnancy or in individuals with insulin resistance can encourage skin tag growth by stimulating skin cell proliferation. -
Age:
Skin tags become more common after age 40 as skin loses elasticity and is more susceptible to these growths. -
Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome:
Excess weight increases skin folds and friction, raising the likelihood of skin tags. -
Type 2 Diabetes Connection:
Elevated insulin levels in diabetes or insulin resistance cases may promote skin tag formation.
Safe Ways to Remove Skin Tags
While skin tags are benign and don’t require removal unless bothersome, several professional treatments exist for cosmetic or comfort reasons. It’s vital to have these procedures done by a dermatologist to avoid complications. Common removal methods include:
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Cauterization:
Using controlled electric currents to burn off skin tags quickly and effectively, usually without scarring. -
Cryotherapy:
Freezing skin tags with liquid nitrogen until they fall off naturally; generally painless but may cause temporary skin discoloration. -
Surgical Excision:
Cutting out larger or suspicious skin tags under local anesthesia for complete removal. -
Laser Therapy:
Precision laser beams remove tags with minimal damage to surrounding skin, ideal for delicate areas like eyelids or neck. -
Ligation (Tying Off):
A surgical thread is tied around the base of the tag to cut off blood flow, causing it to dry and fall off in days.
Aftercare Tips
Follow your doctor’s advice carefully post-removal. Keep the area clean and dry, use prescribed antibiotic ointments if recommended, and avoid scratching or rubbing. Protect the new skin from sun exposure to prevent pigmentation changes.
When to Consult a Dermatologist?
Although skin tags are harmless, consult a professional if you notice rapid growth, bleeding, pain, or color changes, as these could indicate something more serious needing medical evaluation.
Summary
Skin tags on your neck and armpits are common and harmless but can be removed safely by experts if they bother you. Always seek professional advice before trying any at-home treatments to ensure effective and safe removal.