Skin Tag in children – Care Instructions

A skin tag (acrochordon) is a soft, extra growth of skin. Most skin tags are flesh-colored and rarely bigger than a pencil eraser. They commonly form near areas where there are folds in the skin, such as the armpit or groin. Skin tags are not dangerous, and they do not spread from person to person (are not contagious).

Your child may have one skin tag or several. Skin tags do not require treatment. However, your child’s health care provider may recommend removal of a skin tag if it:

• Gets irritated from clothing.
• Bleeds.
• Is visible and unsightly.

Your child’s health care provider can remove skin tags with a simple surgical procedure or a procedure that involves freezing the skin tag.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Watch for any changes in your child’s skin tag. A normal skin tag does not require any other special care at home.
• Give your child over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your child has a skin tag that:
  • Becomes painful.
  • Changes color.
  • Bleeds.
  • Swells.
• Your child develops more skin tags.