Skin tags have to be one of the most common blemishes I see. You notice one. A few months later, there’s another. Then a small cluster, and clients ask me: why do I keep getting these, and is there anything I can do?
This may answer it for you…
Friction is the biggest culprit
Skin tags form in areas where skin rubs against skin or against clothing. That’s why they so often appear on the neck (necklaces, collars), under the arms, around the bra line, on the eyelids, in the groin and under the breasts. If you’re prone to them, anywhere with regular friction is a likely spot.
Genetics play a real role
If your parents/grandparents have lots of skin tags, you’re more likely to develop them too. This is simply genetics. Nothing you could have done would have avoided this.
Hormones, especially in pregnancy
Many of my clients first notice skin tags during pregnancy and find more appear afterwards. Hormonal changes can trigger them, and the same applies during perimenopause and menopause.
Weight changes
Skin folds create friction, so people experiencing weight gain tend to develop more skin tags. Equally, people who have recently lost weight sometimes find existing ones become more noticeable.
Age
Skin tags become more common from your 40s onwards. They’re not a sign anything is wrong; it is just a normal part of how skin behaves over time.
Other health factors
There’s a recognised link between skin tags and conditions like type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. If you’re developing lots of new tags quickly, it’s worth mentioning to your GP, not because the tags themselves are harmful, but because they can sometimes be a useful health flag.
Can you prevent them?
Honestly, not entirely. You can reduce friction by avoiding tight jewellery, keeping skin moisturised in fold areas, and by wearing comfortable fabrics, but if you’re genetically predisposed, you’ll likely still develop them.
What you can do
Have them removed professionally. Advanced electrolysis treats skin tags safely and precisely, and once a tag is gone, it doesn’t grow back in the exact same spot (though you may develop new ones elsewhere).
Please don’t try to remove them at home with string, clippers or freezing kits from the pharmacy. I’ve seen the results, and they’re rarely pretty; infection, scarring, and bleeding are common.
If skin tags are bothering you, a consultation is the place to start.
To book your consultation in either my Colchester or Chelmsford Clinic CLICK HERE