Skin tags are benign skin lesions. They are brown or flesh-coloured lesions that protrude from the surface of the skin usually by a few millimetres and they should not be confused with ‘moles’. They are usually small in size, round, either oblong or stalked, with a smooth surface or cauliflower appearance. Their colour varies from brown to dark brown.
The papules are caused by HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and most people, both men and women, develop papules after the age of 30. They can appear anywhere on the body but are typically found in areas where skin repeatedly rubs against itself, such as the armpits, groin, eyelids and neck. Some skin tags grow over time and can very occasionally become as large as 5 centimetres. After they occur, care must be taken not to injure the area or irritate it, as the papules multiply.