How Do Skin Tags Spread? Are they Caused By a Virus?

Whenever you get a skin growth, the first thing you want to know it’s whether it’s contagious. Maybe you had one skin tag but after some time, a cluster appears in the same area. However, relax now as skin tags don’t appear to be caused by a virus or infection. There is no prove that skin tags are contagious and can be passed from one person to another through touching. Sometimes skin tags are confused with skin conditions that are contagious e.g. STD and warts. For clarification, it’s important to understand the possible causes of skin tags.

There is no concrete reason as to why one gets a skin tag, However, it’s normal to get one due to factors relating to your personal health and lifestyle. Here are some theories as to how you may develop a skin rash.

Everyone can get skin tags; there are however common among people above the age of 50. And getting rid of skin tags naturally can be an extremely longand unpleasant process. They mainly occur as a result of friction that is; the rubbing of skin against another object or skin, that’s why skin tags are common in areas like the neck and armpits. Skin tags are also common among people who are overweight and obese. These as a result of the many body folds they have associated with their weight. Skin tags can also develop when one is pregnant due to the different levels of hormones.

The other daily factor that is likely to make you develop a skin tag is wearing tight clothing and jewelry. If you have a habit of wearing jewelry that always rubs against your skin, there high chances of a skin tag developing on your skin.

It’s important to note one cannot acquire skin tags from another person. Whenever you realize there is a skin tag on your skin consider what may have caused friction around that part of the body. Skin Tags do not spread from one person to another. They cannot only become irritated and infected.

Most of the times people confuse skin tags for other skin conditions like warts. Warts can be very contagious and it’s, therefore, crucial to know the difference between the two. Skin tags protrude directly from the skin and are flap like shaped. They can also appear more rounded as they dangle from the skin. Mostly, skin tags are the same color as the skin and hardly noticeable or in rare cases appear slightly darker than the skin.

On the other hand, Warts are cylindrical and do not dangle from the skin. Warts can appear in clusters almost everywhere on the skin or appear on their own with white or pink hues. Warts are highly contagious as they are caused by Human Papilla-virus (HPV).

So, next time you see a skin rash on your body, the first thing you do is identify whether it’s a wart or a skin tag. Having a skin tag is common and should not be bothered by having on one of your body parts at all. All the same, you can consider having it removed if it appears in a prominent place or irritates when you wear jewelry.