Skin tags are harmless, but they can be frustrating and unsightly. They also occur more frequently in people with type 2 diabetes. This article will explain how the two conditions are connected, and what to do about it.
What Are Skin Tags?
According to Everyday Health, skin tags — dermatologists call them acrochordons — are “extra pieces of skin that stick out beyond the surface of the body.” These little growths or flaps are usually soft (softer than warts). They may dangle away from the skin as if from a stalk, or they may be slightly raised.
Skin tags:
- Can be as small as 1 millimeter
- Can be as large as 1 centimeter or more
- May be flesh-colored, or darker
- Are most common on the neck, eyelids, groin, underarms, under the breasts, or anywhere skin rubs against skin
Skin tags may not be pretty, but they don’t usually create any additional problems. If you have an unidentified skin issue that involves redness, itchiness, or any other bothersome symptom, you may not have a skin tag — but you should check with a doctor or dermatologist if you want to be sure.
Skin Tags and Diabetes
Skin tags seem to happen more frequently in people with insulin resistance and diabetes. The link was identified as long ago as 1951, according to a more recent review. A 2007 study found that the more skin tags a person has, the more likely they have diabetes.
Today, skin tags are generally considered a sneaky sign of undiagnosed diabetes. A 2015 case study, which found that people with skin tags were far more likely to have diabetes, suggested that clinicians should have “a high level of suspicion for diabetes mellitus in patients with acrochordons.” By the same token, skin tag formation could be a warning sign to prioritize blood sugar control for people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes.
Skin tags are just one of many skin issues common in diabetes. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and its many blood vessels and nerves experience dysfunction when subjected to high blood sugars — just like the rest of the body. Diabetes can lead to a large number of other skin issues, including dry skin, shin spots, and diabetic blisters.
Skin tags may not only be a consequence of high blood sugar, but of general metabolic health issues. A 2020 study found that skin tags were associated with both diabetes, high A1C, and hypertension. And a 2011 investigation, by contrast, found that skin tags were probably caused by obesity, but not type 2 diabetes itself. Skin tags could have physical as well as metabolic causes in people with diabetes — larger bodies have more skin rubbing against skin.
It is unclear whether or not skin tags are common in type 1 diabetes.
Treating and Preventing Skin Tags
Skin tags usually don’t require treatment — they are, by themselves, harmless. But it’s easy to understand why you might want to get rid of these unsightly little issues, or prevent more from forming.
There is no established treatment for skin tags, but it stands to reason that if poor metabolic health is associated with skin tag formation, addressing your metabolic risk factors could possibly help. Making healthy diet and exercise decisions — and the prudent use of medication, as prescribed by a doctor — can help improve your blood sugar, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which might help lower the risk of skin tag formation. Lifestyle changes and optimal glucose management are generally recommended for other skin issues that are thought to be associated with diabetes.
In the Diabetes Daily forums, one community member recently reported that their skin tags resolved after losing weight and getting their blood sugar under control.
Removing Skin Tags
Skin tags are described as medically harmless, but they can become a problem, especially if they get irritated by clothing, backpacks, handbag straps, or seatbelts, among other things. This could cause redness, pain, or bleeding.
Other skin tags may be unsightly enough to consider removal, especially if they’re in a highly visible area. This would be considered a cosmetic surgery, and is less likely to be covered by health insurance.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), dermatologists have a number of options for removing skin tags, including:
- Cryosurgery, which uses a small blast extreme cold to kill the skin tag, causing it to fall off
- Electrodessication, which achieves the same result with an electric current
- Surgical scissors (don’t try this at home!)
Though there are many over-the-counter products that promise skin tag removal, the AAD recommends against their use.
Bottom Line
Skin tags are harmless little bumps, stalks, or flaps of soft skin that occur more frequently in people with type 2 diabetes and related metabolic conditions, such as obesity and hypertension. For some adults, they may even be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes.
While skin tags don’t normally require treatment, they can be removed by a dermatologist.