Skin Tags Causes: Why They Grow on the Body
If you have a skin tag, then I'd bet you'd like to know what caused it to grow there.
Well, the fact of the matter is that there are a variety of skin tags causes, but none of them are entirely understood.
Meaning, it's still unclear exactly why tags form, but several causal factors have emerged as the likely reasons for these unusual growths to develop.
For starters, skin tags are small growths that hang off of the surrounding skin by a thin layer called a peduncle (stalk).
They vary in size and are usually not much bigger than a few millimeters, but can grow as larger a full centimeter.
They tend to have a soft, smooth surface, not unlike other parts of the skin surface.
For the most part, they tend to be flesh-colored, but sometimes appear slightly darker than the surrounding skin.
As you might imagine, they're equally common in both men and women.
In addition, new tags can develop at almost any age, but they seem to occur most often when we reach middle age.
Unlike other skin abnormalities, tags always develop after birth.
One possible cause of this is some kind of repeated friction against the skin.
This friction could be coming from tight clothing or from the skin simply rubbing against itself on a regular basis.
In this case, it would explain why tags are commonly found on parts of the body where there are folds and creases in the skin, such as under the arms, on the legs and breasts, as well as on the eyelids, neck, and in the groin area.
Weight gain is often associated with the development of new tags.
What's more, obese people are more likely to develop skin tags.
Once again, the friction created by the skin rubbing against itself is thought to explain this.
Another likely factor is heredity.
In other words, if others in your family have skin tags, then you're more likely to eventually develop them yourself at some point.
Yet another factor is physiologic changes in the body.
In some cases, these changes result from certain diseases, like diabetes.
In other cases, the changes are mainly hormonal, such as those that occur during pregnancy.
In fact, many women report finding new skin tags while pregnant, but fortunately, these particular tags aren't usually permanent, as they often disintegrate on their own within a year or so of giving birth.
Well, the fact of the matter is that there are a variety of skin tags causes, but none of them are entirely understood.
Meaning, it's still unclear exactly why tags form, but several causal factors have emerged as the likely reasons for these unusual growths to develop.
For starters, skin tags are small growths that hang off of the surrounding skin by a thin layer called a peduncle (stalk).
They vary in size and are usually not much bigger than a few millimeters, but can grow as larger a full centimeter.
They tend to have a soft, smooth surface, not unlike other parts of the skin surface.
For the most part, they tend to be flesh-colored, but sometimes appear slightly darker than the surrounding skin.
As you might imagine, they're equally common in both men and women.
In addition, new tags can develop at almost any age, but they seem to occur most often when we reach middle age.
Unlike other skin abnormalities, tags always develop after birth.
One possible cause of this is some kind of repeated friction against the skin.
This friction could be coming from tight clothing or from the skin simply rubbing against itself on a regular basis.
In this case, it would explain why tags are commonly found on parts of the body where there are folds and creases in the skin, such as under the arms, on the legs and breasts, as well as on the eyelids, neck, and in the groin area.
Weight gain is often associated with the development of new tags.
What's more, obese people are more likely to develop skin tags.
Once again, the friction created by the skin rubbing against itself is thought to explain this.
Another likely factor is heredity.
In other words, if others in your family have skin tags, then you're more likely to eventually develop them yourself at some point.
Yet another factor is physiologic changes in the body.
In some cases, these changes result from certain diseases, like diabetes.
In other cases, the changes are mainly hormonal, such as those that occur during pregnancy.
In fact, many women report finding new skin tags while pregnant, but fortunately, these particular tags aren't usually permanent, as they often disintegrate on their own within a year or so of giving birth.
