Is It A Skin Tag Or Something Else?

Many people contact me because they've noticed a small growth on their skin and want to know whether it's a skin tag.

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't.

The challenge is that several common skin conditions can look surprisingly similar, especially when viewed online.

What Does A Skin Tag Usually Look Like?

Skin tags are soft, harmless growths that often develop in areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing.

Common areas include:

• Neck

• Underarms

• Under the breasts

• Groin

• Eyelids

They are usually flesh-coloured and often appear to hang slightly from the skin.

What Gets Mistaken For A Skin Tag?

Several other skin lesions can resemble skin tags, including:

Warts

Warts are often rougher in texture and may have a more irregular surface.

Seborrhoeic Keratoses

These harmless growths can appear raised and "stuck on" to the skin.

Moles

Some raised moles can look similar to skin tags at first glance.

Other Skin Lesions

Occasionally, skin changes that require medical assessment can be mistaken for a harmless skin tag.

Why Assessment Matters

Not every lesion is suitable for cryotherapy.

A proper assessment helps ensure that treatment is appropriate and that anything requiring further investigation is identified first.

When Should You Get It Checked?

If a skin lesion is:

• Changing in appearance

• Bleeding without obvious cause

• Becoming painful

• Rapidly increasing in size

• Pigmented or irregular

It should be assessed before considering removal.

Tempera Health offers cryotherapy assessments for skin tags, common warts and verrucae across Basingstoke, Overton and surrounding Hampshire villages.