Many people have, or will get, skin tags at some point in their life. They’re usually skin-colored or brown, but sometimes they can become red or red and inflamed, and they may also bleed. You can develop red skin tags that hurt, or you can easily mistake them for a cherry angioma. It’s important that you understand the causes and differences.
They can grow anywhere on the body. Many people have them, and some don’t even realize that they do until they become painful or infected. Only those skin tags that have become irritated for some reason will hurt, and they also may become blood-filled.
They are just extra growths that are commonly found in skin folds. They are common among pregnant women, if only because of the significant hormonal changes and the fact they’ve gained weight quickly.
You need to determine if you have a skin tag or another benign skin condition, such as warts, moles, or cherry angiomas. If you have a skin tag, you can take steps to get it treated. Make sure that you don’t have an infection. If you do, see a doctor.
While skin tags can appear anywhere on the face or body, the most common places are covered in-depth below. Click on the relevant link to find out essential information about treating skin tags quickly and safely on each part of your body.
What’s the Difference Between Red Skin Tags and Cherry Angiomas?
It might be what is called a cherry angioma. They’re bright red and usually round. Most often, they are on the underarms and torso.
The difference is that a skin tag is a piece of skin attached to you by a stalk, and a cherry angioma lays flat against your skin, like a wart or genital wart, or may be raised just a little. They are more common among people over the age of 30 and become more common as we age.
Why Do I Have Red Skin Tags?
Different things can cause skin tags, such as friction, pregnancy, genetics, steroids, and weight gain. Nobody knows for sure what causes them, but these are plausible explanations that have been provided by the experts.
Are Red Skin Tags Cancerous?
Provided that they’ve been identified correctly, they are non-cancerous. They’re soft to touch and grow on a thin stalk. When skin tags turn red, and you’re unable to make an accurate self-diagnosis, consult a doctor or dermatologist.
Are They Risky or Dangerous?
They are a more cosmetic worry than a medical concern. If you’re unsure about what it is, then visit your doctor or dermatologist. Also, you should see a doctor if it/they become bigger or if it/they change in shape. They can sometimes be a symptom of diabetes.
There are different types of treatments available, and some are very similar, if not the same, as skin tags. You should ask a doctor before you try to treat them yourself because you should never self-treat an infected skin tag.
Why Has It Changed Color?
Most skin tags stay the same color, but some of them do turn red, and they can also hurt. Tight clothing is one of the most common reasons. When a skin tag is irritated, the constant friction of tighter clothing may make it hurt.
It can also lead to more blood being drawn to the skin tag, which is why it has turned red. The irritation may also result in swelling, which is why it would start to hurt.
Although it may be worrisome, there is still no health risk. The change of color does not mean that anything different has happened, but it may mean that it’s irritated. This is likely if you’re experiencing pain and discomfort in that area.
What Are the Reasons for Red Skin Tags that Hurt?
Because skin tags mainly appear in the folds of the skin, they can easily get irritated, due to the friction each time you move. They may become bigger, but that is because they are getting aggravated/irritated.
Twisted Skin Tags
Blood may start to fill the skin tag because it’s been twisted. When a skin tag starts becomes twisted it will usually become red, and it may even eventually turn black. The reason for this is that the blood flow has been cut off. Your skin tag may stay like this for a while and then fall off. Not often, but it sometimes happens.
Possible Signs of an Infection
When you have a red skin tag that hurts, you may want to see your doctor or a dermatologist. They can help remove the infection so that it can be treated. Many people don’t like to go to the doctors, simply because of the location. But, if it is causing you pain, you should get it taken care of right away.
Health insurance companies don’t usually cover the cost of skin tag removal because they consider them a cosmetic problem. But, if yours has become blood-filled and painful, they may cover it. Call and ask them first, because having a dermatologist do it usually costs $150 for each skin tag removed.
How to Remove Little Red Skin Tag at Home
Depending on where the skin tags are located, there are safe treatments that you can use at home. Many people try to cut off a skin tag with a scalpel or tie off skin tags with string or floss. They work, but you must get rid of the infection first!
Tea Tree Oil for Skin Tags
If you have a skin tag that has gotten sore, you may want to think about using Apothecary Australian tea tree oil. If you don’t like the thought of using chemicals on your skin or are pregnant, then tea tree oil is a good choice. It’s effective because it dries the skin tag out, stopping the blood supply from flowing to it.
It has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, which means that the skin tag will stop hurting soon because the inflammation will go down quickly. The anti-bacterial properties will fight against any infection.
Tag Band Skin Tag Removal Device
If you’d prefer to get rid of a skin tag fast, once it’s no longer infected, you should use the TagBand. It ties off the skin tag at the bottom of the stalk and stops the extra blood flow, so it’s unable to survive. It usually takes about a week to work.
Much like what a doctor would do, this will remove the skin tag quickly and safely. There are no strings to tie, and only a minimal chance of the skin tag getting irritated. The TagBand Removal Device comes as a simple kit, with easy-to-follow directions. After you apply the band, there is nothing to do but wait until the skin tag falls off.
The above treatments will safely remove skin tags at home. If you do have an infection, it is advisable that you get that problem resolved first. The subsequent removal of a skin tag will prevent it from happening again.