Skin tags are small, soft, flesh-coloured or darker growths that hang off your skin. They’re very common and harmless, but they can be removed if you feel they’re bothering you. They are commonly found on the neck, underarms, groin and eyelids. Skin tags are made up of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin. Collagen is a type of protein found throughout the body.

Skin tags shouldn’t be confused with common warts. One way to tell them apart is that skin tags are usually smooth and soft, whereas warts tend to be rougher with an irregular surface. Skin tags also tend to be knobbly and hang off the skin, while warts are usually slightly raised or flat.

Skin tags are caused by friction between the skin, being overweight, having type 2 diabetes and pregnancy. Both men and women can develop skin tags, but they tend to occur more often in older people.

Pregnant women may also be more likely to develop skin tags due to changes in hormone levels, and some people develop them for no obvious reason.

No, a properly removed skin tag usually won’t grow back in the exact same spot. However, new ones can develop in other areas because the underlying factors (friction, overweight, type 2 diabetes and pregnancy) that caused the first one still exist.

At Thames Skin Clinic, we use Plasma BT technology for safe and precise skin tag and lesion removal. Your skin tag is removed immediately during treatment. You’ll notice small carbon dots appear where the plasma energy was applied, with mild redness and swelling that usually resolves within 2-3 hours. The carbon dots naturally shed around day 7, revealing fresh new skin underneath. Most patients can return to normal activities immediately—the minimal downtime is one of Plasma BT’s key advantages, with visible dots present for only 7-10 days. While you’ll see immediate results, the final rejuvenated appearance develops over 4-8 weeks as new collagen forms, with best results by week 6-8. Aftercare is straightforward: avoid getting the area wet for 48 hours, use only prescribed healing products, do not pick at the dots, avoid strenuous exercise for 3-5 days, and use high SPF 50+ sun protection for at least 4 weeks. For delicate areas like eyelids, healing may take slightly longer (2-3 weeks for dots to shed), but Plasma BT is safe and precise even on sensitive facial areas. Once healed, results are long-lasting—3-5 years or longer—because the skin tag has been permanently removed through tissue contraction and collagen remodelling.