Can laser hair removal treatments give you skin tags?
Getting smooth, touchable skin that helps us feel confident—not to mention eliminates some of the hassles in our daily routine—is a big part of why laser hair removal has become so popular. But can it cause skin tags? Are you just trading unwanted hair for unsightly skin growths?
We’ve done the research to answer that question for you!
What is a skin tag?
Skin tags, also known as skin tabs or acrochordon, are small, soft skin growths. They are usually about one-third to one-half the size of a pencil eraser but can be as large as a grape. While these growths can be annoying, they often catch on clothing or jewelry, and unsightly, they are benign making them essentially harmless.
Skin tags are very common. In fact, they are probably the most common bump on adult skin with almost everyone developing at least one—though hundreds can develop—skin tag during their lifetime.
They may fall off on their own, or you may wish to have them removed—doing so does not cause more to grow.
…it’s believed that skin rubbing against skin plays a major factor in developing skin tags.
Skin tags are very common, benign skin growths—most adults will develop at least one in their lifetime—and are generally about half to one-third the size of a pencil eraser.
What causes skin tags?
Unfortunately, the exact cause isn’t known. However, because skin tags tend to develop in skin creases or folds, it’s believed that skin rubbing against skin plays a major factor in developing skin tags.
While anyone can develop skin tags, middle-aged adults who are overweight or obese tend to be more prone to developing them. The most common places for skin tags to develop are on the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin, buttocks, and under the breasts.
Coincidentally, many of these same body areas are where people choose to receive laser hair removal treatments with underarms, chest, back, face, and the groin area being the most popular.
What does that mean for laser hair removal?
Great news! There appears to be no correlation between laser hair removal treatments and an individual’s probability of developing skin tags.
This simply means that laser hair removal treatments do not cause skin tags to develop. You can safely zap away your unwanted hair without worrying about trading embarrassing stubble for unsightly skin tags.