What Causes Skin Tags?

So, what exactly causes skin tags? Some people seem to be particularly pre-disposed to these harmless growths of hanging skin. The medical name for them is Acrochordon. Men and women seem to be equally likely to develop them and there does appear to be a hereditary link, although this may be combined with other causes.

Common causes

It is believed that the main reason for them is friction. Anywhere that skin rubs together, or items of clothing constantly rub on the skin, seem to be areas where they occur. Being overweight, even just temporarily, can increase the chances of them forming. Large breasted women, even if they are not overweight, tend to have a high chance of them forming under their breastsThe risk tends to increase with as you get older, with people becoming more likely to develop them in middle age, through to around the age of 60.When the level of hormones in the body is elevated, such as in pregnancy, then again this adds to the likelihood of them occurring.

How should they be treated?
In general, the tags do not need to be treated unless they become bothersome to the affected person. If this is the case, your doctor will advise on the correct course of action - which may include attempting to address the direct reason of what causes skin tags.

What can I do to prevent them happening?
The biggest and most effective thing you can do to prevent them occurring is to keep your weight under control. In doing this you will help keep the areas of friction on your skin to as little as is possible.

The main thing with this condition is that these soft skin growths are generally benign, and nothing to worry about. If they don't cause you a problem, then you can ignore them. If you find that you are ending up with a large amount in a particular area, then it might be worth a little further investigation to try to find out exactly what causes the skin tags.