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Harmless but sometimes annoying, skin tags usually appear on the neck, armpits or are located on areas of skin folds. These skin growths, also called “molluscum pendulum”, are soft and painless, flesh-colored or even slightly dark. Discover their causes and risk factors, as well as the treatments available to get rid of them.
Some people call them “skin nipples.” In the form of small balls, skin tags should not be confused with condylomas or warts. To make sure that these are indeed flesh growths, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist, as for any unusual skin change.
Wart, mole, skin tag: what’s the difference?
To prevent a potential risk of contagion and adapt the treatment to your condition, it is important to know how to differentiate this small skin growth. Skin tags have a smooth, soft and fairly round surface . Warts are often rough and harder, not to mention their contagious nature. Unlike skin tags, which usually have the same color as the skin, moles are generally pigmented and raised. Note that skin tags are not the result of a viral infection , unlike warts, which occur following contamination by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
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How to recognize these growths?
The skin tag, which is a growth of flesh, is formed of dermis and epidermis. These are respectively the middle and superficial layers of the skin. Although we commonly speak of “nipples”, doctors also use the terms “fibroepithelial polyp” or “molluscum pendulum”. As explained by Dr. Isabelle Gallay, a dermatologist, the skin tag is a very common phenomenon that does not present a cancerous risk. In reality, this ball, whose diameter is around 4-5 millimeters , is a benign tumor that belongs to the fibroid family.
