What Causes Skin Tags—and How to (Finally) Get Rid of Them

But what causes skin tags in the first place?

There’s no way around it: Skin tags are just not cute.

But despite their rep, skin tags are really NBDnot to mention, super common.

What are skin tags?

(More on what to do if that happens later.)

The short answer: It’s unclear.

The long answer: There’s no singular cause, though experts agree genetics definitely play a role.

Many women may also develop them during pregnancy as a result of heightened estrogen levels, says Dr. Robinson.

Not to mention, some people may be bothered simply by their appearance, she adds.

(Speaking of which, here’s exactlyhow often you should have a skin exam.)

There’s a risk of excess bleeding because skin tags contain blood vessels, adds Dr. Robinson.

The good news is your dermatologist can easily and safely take off a skin tag in several different ways.

Removing larger skin tags may also require some numbing cream or local anesthesia and potentially stitches, she adds.