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Understanding the Different Types of Skin Tags

Understanding the Different Types of Skin Tags

If you’ve ever had a small piece of skin suddenly appear to be hanging from the rest of your skin for no reason, you might have had a skin tag. Skin tags don’t usually cause pain or medical issues, but they can occasionally become infected and make you feel self-conscious about how you look.

Skin tag specialist Thomas Nguyen, MD, from Nguyen Medical Group in Boynton Beach, Florida, and our medical team are experienced in identifying and removing the different types of skin tags that occur. Understand the different types of skin tags, and what you can do if you get one.

Understanding skin tags

Skin tags are small growths that are attached to your skin and hang from a peduncle, or small stalk. Most skin tags are the same color as your skin, but poor circulation can make them appear slightly darker than your skin or black in appearance.

These growths are benign, meaning they aren’t cancerous, and aren’t usually uncomfortable. Anyone can get a skin tag, but they’re most common in adults over 50 and women.

You can get a skin tag on any part of your body, but they most frequently develop where your skin folds or creases. This includes your armpits, eyelids, groin and thigh areas, neck, and on the underside of the breasts.

The most common types of skin tags

There are different kinds of skin tags you can get. The most common ones include traditional skin tags, keratosis, and benign lesions.

Traditional skin tags

These kinds of skin tags are the most common and don’t usually require any need for treatment. They remain small in size and aren’t typically painful or uncomfortable.

Keratosis

This skin condition causes bumps to form on your buttocks, cheeks, or upper arms. The bumps appear rough and feel dry to the touch but don’t usually cause discomfort. However, they can be unattractive.

Benign lesions

Skin lesions are lumps or bumps on your skin that are non-cancerous. They are especially common on your stomach, arms, legs, and chest, but can appear throughout the body.

Diagnosis and Removal of skin tags

Our clinicians at Nguyen Medical Group determine if you have any skin tags with a thorough examination. This includes examining your body for skin tags, taking a full medical history, and discussing any symptoms you’re experiencing.

Our team removes skin tags if they’re causing irritation from rubbing against your clothing, have become infected, or if you dislike their appearance or find they’re negatively impacting your self-esteem. Minor skin tags can be removed right in our office with cryotherapy that freezes them off or a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

For large or difficult skin tags or lesions your provider is concerned might be malignant, our team provides a prompt referral to a skilled dermatologist.

If the way your skin tags look or feel are causing you discomfort or are making you unhappy, our team can permanently remove them with a quick procedure. To make an appointment to discuss your skin tags, schedule your appointment online or by calling us today. 

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