
Look for new growth in a mole larger than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters). Look for growths that have changed color, have many colors or have uneven color. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders. This ABCDE guide can help you remember what to watch for:
#Multiple skin tags on neck skin
Unusual moles that may indicate melanomaĪ mole may be a sign of skin cancer if it has irregular borders or an asymmetrical shape or if it changes in color, shape, size or height. Flesh moles don't carry a risk of melanoma, but they can be treated if you consider them a cosmetic concern. Dermatoses papulosa nigra are more common among Black women. With hormonal changes in adolescence and pregnancy, they may become darker and larger.Ĭlusters of brown spots around the eyes, cheeks and nose are sometimes called flesh moles, but they are actually dermatoses papulosa nigra - a type of seborrheic keratosis, not clusters of pigment-forming cells (nevi). Moles can develop anywhere on your body, including your scalp, armpits, under your nails, and between your fingers and toes. Those present at birth (congenital nevi) can be bigger than usual, covering part of the face, torso or a limb.

Moles are usually less than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters) in diameter - the size of a pencil eraser. They can be smooth, wrinkled, flat or raised. Moles can be brown, tan, black, blue, red or pink. But moles come in different colors, shapes and sizes: Another reason to have skin tags removed is if they are in an area that gets a lot of friction, even just from wearing clothes or jewelry, causing irritation and bleeding.The typical mole is a small brown spot. However, you might want to seek skin tag treatment for cosmetic reasons if, for instance, you have one on an eyelid and it detracts from your appearance. Sometimes skin tags fall off on their own as they get pulled and irritated, according to the AAFP. The only way to get rid of skin tags is to have a dermatologist remove them with a minor surgical procedure, says Baxt.ĭepending on where your skin tags are located, you might not choose any skin tag treatment - out of sight can lead to out of mind. Skin Tag Treatment Options: Simple Surgical Procedures Skin-tag-like basal cell carcinoma in childhood may represent a marker for NBCCS, according to one study. In rare cases, skin tags could be a symptom of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), which is a complex genetic disorder in which individuals are predisposed to developing a type of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

One theory is that the friction created by skin rubbing against skin, a side effect of being overweight, causes skin tags in certain people, which would explain why skin tags often grow in body folds, according to the AOCD. They are also more common among people with diabetes and a family history of skin tags, according to the AOCD. There is no way to prevent skin tags other than staying a normal weight, she adds. No one knows what causes skin tags, but they are more common with pregnancy and weight gain, says Baxt. They are common as people age, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). It is estimated that almost half of adults have at least one skin tag, according to the AOCD. However, since it can be difficult to self-diagnose skin tags, it’s important to see a dermatologist if anything is growing, changing, bleeding, itchy, crusty, flaky, or changing color on your skin, says Baxt.Ī Common Condition: Skin Tag Causes and Risk Factors They are usually asymptomatic, and they are diagnosed by visual inspection. You may have just one or two, or you may have many they might be in isolated spots or in a group with many skin tags. Once formed, they typically don’t get any bigger. They are common on the neck, under the arms, in the groin, and on the eyelids, says Dr. Baxt, as they tend to grow in parts of the body with folds, but they can appear elsewhere as well. They can be right on the skin’s surface or seem to sprout from a thin stalk of skin and hang off the body. Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are mostly flesh-colored growths, although some may be darker in color, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD). Skin tags can be as small as 1 millimeter and as large as 1 centimeter, occasionally even larger, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a dermatologist in Paramus, New Jersey.
#Multiple skin tags on neck how to
How to Identify a Skin Tag: What They Look Like

And though what causes skin tags isn’t always known, skin tag treatment is pretty straightforward - they are easily removed. They are harmless and more of a cosmetic issue than anything else, but understanding what they are, and aren’t, can be reassuring. Skin tags are extra pieces of skin that stick out beyond the surface of the body.
