A skin tag is a small flesh-coloured or brown growth that hangs off the skin, which can appear anywhere on the body. Skin tags are very common and harmless, but many want them removed for aesthetic reasons.

Skin tags can develop in areas of skin that constantly rub against clothes or other areas of skin, but they can also develop for no apparent reason. Skin tags are more likely to develop in the following areas:

• Eyelids
• Armpits
• Under the breasts
• The groin
• Neck

There are no specific actions that can prevent skin tags. Some people are more prone to skin tags than others, such as overweight people, diabetics, and pregnant women. There’s also a genetic link with skin tags. Those with a close family member who has skin tags are more likely to develop skin tags themselves. People who carry the human papilloma virus (HPV) are also more likely to develop skin tags, as are those who take illegal steroids.