Are these skin tags growing on my neck? Can they be removed? (Photo)

Question

There’s these brown spots that are growing around my neck and my chest. They are not moles as I can feel them they’re kind of lumpy. Could they possibly be skin tags? What causes them to appear on the neck and chest? I weigh 133 lbs and 5’2 tall for reference.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Mole removal begins with a comprehensive examination and consultation to determine the likelihood of a mole being worrisome. Excisional and incisional biopsies are reserved for suspicious moles. But it’s good news that most moles are not problematic and are only cosmetic, thus leading to the option of scarless or non-surgical mole removal with lasers and RF and plasma. Our office specializes in non-surgical mole removal.

Best,
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian
Realself 100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian
Realself 100 Surgeon

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your photo and detailed description — it really helps me understand what you’re noticing. Based on what you described — soft, small, brownish bumps around the neck and chest that you can feel rather than flat spots — these do indeed sound consistent with skin tags (also called acrochordons). They’re completely benign and very common, especially in areas where the skin experiences mild friction.

They tend to appear more often with:

Friction or rubbing, such as from clothing or jewelry.

Genetic predisposition — some people are simply more prone to them.

Mild metabolic factors, like insulin resistance or hormonal changes, which can increase their likelihood.

The good news is that they can be safely and easily removed if they’re bothering you for cosmetic reasons or irritation. Removal methods include gentle cryotherapy (freezing), snipping with sterile scissors, or cauterization — all of which can be done in a dermatologist’s office, usually with minimal discomfort and little to no downtime.

Once removed, they generally don’t grow back in the same spot, though new ones can occasionally appear over time — which is normal and nothing to worry about.

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