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Allen KamravaMD · MBA · FACS · FASCRS

Are skin tags on the anus dangerous?

In adults who have a skin tag at or around the anus, does the presence of such a tag indicate or predict malignancy, anal disease, or other serious pathology compared with people without one, and does it warrant biopsy or removal to rule out danger?

How people search for this, in their own words

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Evidence review in plain language · compiled 2026-10-13 · checked 2026-10-13 · next 2026-11-13 · automated review, how it works

What the evidence says

Bottom line

Whether a skin tag at the anus signals something dangerous is unclear — the only studies that looked at this directly found conflicting results.

Only two small case reports looked at this question directly. One found that cancer from a man's existing colorectal cancer had spread into a skin tag, which changed his surgical plan. The other found a perianal skin tag in an infant that looked like it could be a dangerous tumor, but biopsy showed it was a benign growth with no risk of turning cancerous. Everything else in the evidence comes from single-patient reports or from reviews about Crohn's disease and hemorrhoids, not from studies built to measure how risky an ordinary skin tag actually is.

How certain

Very low

The only direct evidence is 2 small or uncontrolled studies.

What it shows

Unclear

The studies point in different directions.

studies found
22studies found
randomised trial
1randomised trial
people studied
1,396people studied
years covered
1984–2026years covered

What the research shows

  • Malignant transformation or cancer found inside the tag

    One case report described an anal skin tag that turned cancerous in a young man with Crohn's disease. A separate case report found that a skin tag in a man with existing colorectal cancer contained cancer cells that had spread there from his cancer elsewhere — this was a metastasis to the tag, not cancer arising from the tag itself. A third case report described a congenital skin-tag-like growth near the anus in a baby that looked like it could be a dangerous tumor, but biopsy showed it was a benign, non-cancerous growth. These are three individual patients, not a study of how often cancer is found in skin tags.[1,2,3]

    Insufficient evidence

  • Association with fissures, hemorrhoids, or inflammatory bowel disease

    Several reviews note that skin tags often appear alongside anal fissures, hemorrhoids, or Crohn's disease, but none of them measured how often this happens or whether having a tag predicts these conditions.[1,2,3,4,5]

    Insufficient evidence

  • Bleeding or infection caused by the tag itself

    No study in this set measured how often skin tags themselves bleed or become infected.

    Not studied

  • Accuracy of a visual exam versus biopsy for ruling out danger

    No study tested how reliably a doctor can rule out something serious just by looking. Case reports show appearances can mislead in both directions — a harmless growth looked like a tumor, and a cancer looked like an ordinary skin tag.[1,2]

    Insufficient evidence

  • Recurrence after removal

    No study followed people after skin tag removal specifically to see whether the tags come back.

    Not studied

  • Pain or complications from removal

    In one small surgical trial, removing skin tags at the same time as hemorrhoid surgery caused more pain than leaving the tags alone.[1]

    Possible harm

What it may help with

  • One case report found that a perianal skin tag in an infant looked like it could be a dangerous tumor (rhabdomyosarcoma), but biopsy identified it as a benign hamartoma with no risk of becoming cancerous — showing how tissue testing can settle the question for an individual.[1]
  • One expert guideline statement notes that large, bothersome skin tags can be surgically removed without needing the bigger hemorrhoid surgery (hemorrhoidectomy).[1]

Important limitations

  • Almost all direct evidence on skin tags and danger comes from single-patient case reports, so there is no way to know how common any risk actually is.[1,2,3,4,5,6]
  • Most of the broader studies are about Crohn's disease or hemorrhoids, not about isolated skin tags in otherwise healthy people, so they only partly answer this question.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]

What the studies found

  • Found a benefit4 · 18%
  • Found no clear effect1 · 5%
  • Mixed or unclear13 · 59%
  • Found possible harm4 · 18%

What kind of studies

  • Narrative review9 · 41%
  • Case series8 · 36%
  • Guideline1 · 5%
  • Prospective cohort1 · 5%
  • Case-control1 · 5%
  • Randomised trial1 · 5%
  • Retrospective1 · 5%

The studies that decided it

  • Qureshi et al. 2026

    AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemorrhoids: Expert Review

    Skin tags often removable without major surgeryGuidelineVery low qualityRelated question

    size not given2026

    Large skin tags can be removed without a hemorrhoidectomy if they are not associated with significant hemorrhoids

    Who was studied
    Patients with hemorrhoids, including those with large anal skin tags
    What they received
    Removal of skin tags without a hemorrhoidectomy
    Compared with
    Surgical hemorrhoidectomy
    Main outcome
    Whether skin tags require major surgical removal
    Quality
    This is an expert opinion guideline based on a non-systematic review of the literature, so it carries no formal evidence rating and is not a controlled study of skin tags themselves.
    Limitations
    This is a best-practice advice statement from an expert panel, not a systematic review or trial, and the abstract states these statements 'do not carry formal ratings regarding the quality of evidence.'

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population Large skin tags can be removed without a hemorrhoidectomy if they are not associated with significant hemorrhoids.
    • intervention Large skin tags can be removed without a hemorrhoidectomy
    • comparator without a hemorrhoidectomy
    • primaryOutcome Large skin tags can be removed without a hemorrhoidectomy if they are not associated with significant hemorrhoids.
    • result Large skin tags can be removed without a hemorrhoidectomy if they are not associated with significant hemorrhoids.
    • qualityWhy these BPA statements do not carry formal ratings regarding the quality of evidence or strength of the presented considerations

    Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol · PMID 42067175 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Sayan et al. 2019

    Rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartoma developed at an unexpected location

    This specific tag was harmless, not cancerCase seriesVery low quality

    1 people2019

    the lesion was a benign hamartoma that does not carry risk of recurrence or turning cancerous, but it can look like a dangerous tumor (rhabdomyosarcoma) so tissue diagnosis is needed

    Who was studied
    a 38-day-old girl with a skin tag near the anus
    What they received
    biopsy and microscopic examination of the skin tag
    Main outcome
    whether the lesion was a dangerous or cancerous growth
    Quality
    this is a report of just one baby, so it cannot show how common or risky these skin tags usually are
    Limitations
    single case report with no comparison group, so findings may not generalize to other children with perianal skin tags

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n We report a 38-day-old girl with a congenital skin tag in the perianal region.
    • population We report a 38-day-old girl with a congenital skin tag in the perianal region.
    • intervention Histopathological examination showed a hamartoma with disorganized skeletal muscle fibers.
    • primaryOutcome histopathological diagnosis should be made in children with perianal localization due to similar clinical manifestation of rhabdomyosarcoma.
    • result Since it does not carry the risk of recurrence and malignant transformation, it is not very important to distinguish it from these lesions.
    • result histopathological diagnosis should be made in children with perianal localization due to similar clinical manifestation of rhabdomyosarcoma.

    Arch Argent Pediatr · PMID 31560504 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Liasis et al. 2016

    Colorectal cancer implant in an external hemorrhoidal skin tag

    Rare cancer spread into skin tag.Case seriesVery low quality

    1 people2016

    the skin tag contained a metastasis from his rectal cancer, changing his surgery

    Who was studied
    a 61-year-old man with colorectal cancer
    What they received
    external hemorrhoidal skin tag examination/biopsy
    Compared with
    none
    Main outcome
    whether the skin tag contained cancer spread
    Quality
    this is a single patient case report, so it cannot show how common or rare this is.
    Limitations
    only one patient described, no comparison group, so the frequency or risk to others with skin tags cannot be judged.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n a 61-year-old man with metastasis to an external hemorrhoidal skin tag
    • population a 61-year-old man with metastasis to an external hemorrhoidal skin tag from a midrectal primary adenocarcinoma
    • intervention close examination of the anus during surgical planning for colorectal cancers
    • comparator Abnormal findings of the perianal skin suggesting an implant or metastatic disease warrant biopsy
    • primaryOutcome Colorectal cancer metastases to the squamous epithelium of perianal skin tags without other evidence of disseminated disease is a very rare finding.
    • result In our patient, this finding appropriately changed surgical management.

    Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) · PMID 27034567 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Singer et al. 2016

    Fistulizing Crohn's Disease Presenting After Surgery on a Perianal Lesion

    Surgery on tags risked missing Crohn's.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question

    8 people2016

    surgery on lesions that looked benign later revealed fistulas and led to Crohn's disease diagnosis

    Who was studied
    children with perianal skin lesions who later were diagnosed with Crohn's disease
    What they received
    surgery on perianal skin lesions (like skin tags)
    Compared with
    no surgery / medical evaluation first
    Main outcome
    development of fistula and diagnosis of Crohn's disease after surgery
    Quality
    this is a tiny case series of only 8 children with no comparison group, so it can't prove surgery caused harm, only that it happened in these cases
    Limitations
    small case series, no control group, selected because surgery was performed, cannot show how often skin tags alone are dangerous

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n This case series examined 8 patients who underwent surgical intervention
    • population Perianal skin lesions, such as skin tags, can be an early presenting sign of Crohn's disease.
    • intervention surgical intervention on what appeared to be benign perianal skin lesions
    • comparator Such children should undergo a thorough evaluation for Crohn's disease before surgical intervention on perianal lesions
    • primaryOutcome only to reveal fistulas leading to the diagnosis of Crohn's disease
    • result Surgical intervention on these lesions may increase the risk of fistula development and lead to worse outcomes.

    Pediatrics · PMID 26908665 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Bouguen et al. 2010

    Nonfistulizing perianal Crohn's disease: clinical features, epidemiology, and treatment

    Skin tags themselves usually harmless, but may mask other problems.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question

    size not given2010

    Skin tags themselves are usually painless, but can hide other perianal problems; anal cancer is uncommon

    Who was studied
    people with Crohn's disease who have perianal (anal area) lesions
    Main outcome
    clinical features and course of nonfistulizing perianal lesions, including skin tags
    Quality
    This is a narrative review describing typical features rather than a study testing an outcome, so it can't show whether skin tags themselves are dangerous.
    Limitations
    It is a review, not a study with its own patient data or control group, and focuses on Crohn's disease patients specifically.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population Nonfistulizing perianal lesions, including ulcerations, strictures, and anal carcinoma, are frequently observed in Crohn's disease.
    • result Skin tags are usually painless and may hide other perianal lesions.
    • result Anal cancer is uncommon.
    • primaryOutcome After reviewing the classification, clinical features, and epidemiology of each type of nonfistulizing perianal lesion (ulceration, stricture, skin tags, and anal cancer), we discuss the efficacy of medical treatment and surgery.

    Inflamm Bowel Dis · PMID 20310013 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Katz et al. 2007

    Perianal skin tags in a patient with Crohn disease and a subclinical rectal stricture

    Skin tags preceded hidden bowel damage.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question

    1 people2007

    the skin tags were linked to Crohn inflammation and the patient was found to have a hidden rectal stricture

    Who was studied
    a 21-year-old person with Crohn disease who had perianal skin tags
    What they received
    not applicable (observation and biopsy of perianal skin tags)
    Compared with
    none
    Main outcome
    whether skin tags signaled worsening internal Crohn disease (rectal stricture)
    Quality
    this is a single patient case report, so it cannot show how common or dangerous skin tags are in general.
    Limitations
    only one patient was described, and the findings may not apply to people without Crohn disease.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n A 21-year-old female-to-male transgender individual with a history of Crohn disease presented with enlarging perianal papules
    • population A 21-year-old female-to-male transgender individual with a history of Crohn disease presented with enlarging perianal papules
    • intervention A biopsy specimen demonstrated granulomatous inflammation characteristic of Crohn disease.
    • comparator Perianal skin tags with granulomatous inflammation are one of many perianal manifestations of Crohn disease.
    • primaryOutcome Increasing numbers or size of these lesions may herald worsening of more proximal Crohn disease, as in our patient.
    • result a subsequent evaluation revealed the presence of a rectal stricture that was then dilated

    Cutis · PMID 18189031 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Van de Stadt et al. 2005

    Long-term results after excision haemorrhoidectomy versus stapled haemorrhoidopexy for prolapsing haemorrhoids; a Belgian prospective randomized trial

    Stapling surgery had more recurrence needing redo.Randomised trialModerate qualityRelated question

    40 people46 months

    PPH caused less pain unless skin tags were also removed, but led to more recurrent swelling/prolapse requiring repeat surgery compared to MM

    Who was studied
    adults with grade II or III prolapsing hemorrhoids needing surgery
    What they received
    stapled hemorrhoidopexy (PPH)
    Compared with
    Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MM), traditional excision surgery
    Main outcome
    postoperative pain, healing time, and long-term recurrence of hemorrhoid symptoms
    Quality
    it was a randomized trial but small, with only 20 patients per group, limiting how much weight its findings carry.
    Limitations
    small sample size of only 40 patients, single-center study

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population 40 patients requiring surgical treatment for prolapsing haemorrhoids grade II or III
    • intervention stapled haemorrhoidopexy (PPH)
    • comparator Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy (MM)
    • primaryOutcome Postoperative pain, wound healing were evaluated, as well as anal pressures and sphincter anatomy
    • result Postoperative pain at rest and during defecation was less important after PPH if no resection of external piles or skin tags was associated (P < 0.0001).
    • result After PPH, five patients (25%) complained of recurrent external swelling and/or prolapse (P = 0.047 vs. MM) requiring redo surgery in four of them
    • n 40 patients requiring surgical treatment for prolapsing haemorrhoids grade II or III were assigned to either MM or PPH (20 each).

    Acta Chir Belg · PMID 15790202 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Somerville et al. 1984

    Malignant transformation of anal skin tags in Crohn's disease

    Rare case of skin tag turning cancerous.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question

    1 people1984

    the anal skin tags turned into cancer

    Who was studied
    young man with Crohn's disease affecting the ileum and perianal area
    What they received
    anal skin tags related to Crohn's disease
    Main outcome
    whether anal skin tags became cancerous
    Quality
    this is a single patient case report, which cannot show how often this happens or why
    Limitations
    only one patient described; no comparison group; cannot show typical risk for people with ordinary skin tags

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population The anal skin tags of a young man with ileal and perianal Crohn's disease
    • intervention The anal skin tags of a young man with ileal and perianal Crohn's disease underwent malignant transformation.
    • primaryOutcome underwent malignant transformation
    • result underwent malignant transformation
    • n a young man

    Gut · PMID 6479689 · Read it on PubMed ↗

What actually helps, on this site

All 22 studiesEvery study that answered the question, with its design, size and result.
The other 14 studiesEverything else the search returned, including anything retracted.

  • Abreu Marques et al. 2025

    Non-Fistulizing Perianal Disease in Crohn's Disease: Clinical Significance, Pathogenesis, and Management Strategies

    Cancer link uncertain, not clearly dangerous.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question

    size not given2025

    The review states the link between non-fistulizing perianal Crohn's lesions and anal cancer is uncertain, while deep ulcers and strictures (not skin tags specifically) were associated with a less favorable disease course

    Who was studied
    People with Crohn's disease who develop perianal skin tags and other non-fistulizing lesions
    What they received
    A narrative review of the literature on non-fistulizing perianal Crohn's disease, including skin tags, fissures, ulcers and strictures
    Main outcome
    Whether these perianal lesions (including skin tags) are linked to a worse disease course or to anal cancer
    Quality
    This is a narrative review without a systematic search or pooled data, so it summarizes existing literature rather than providing strong direct evidence.
    Limitations
    Narrative (non-systematic) review focused on Crohn's disease patients specifically, without standardized classification of lesions or quantitative analysis.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population During the CD course, approximately 45% of patients with CD develop non-fistulizing perianal manifestations, including fissures, ulcers, strictures, and skin tags.
    • intervention A narrative review of the literature up to September 2025 was conducted, with an emphasis on studies that differentiated between non-fistulizing and fistulizing lesions.
    • primaryOutcome The potential association between non-fistulizing PCD and anal cancer remains uncertain.
    • result The potential association between non-fistulizing PCD and anal cancer remains uncertain.
    • result Deep ulcers and strictures appear to be associated with a less favorable disease course.

    J Clin Med · PMID 41464711 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Fathallah et al. 2024

    Hemorrhoidal disease: Epidemiological study and analysis of predictive factors for surgical management

    Skin tags linked to more surgery, not danger.Prospective cohortLow qualityRelated question

    472 people2024

    Surgery produced a bigger drop in bleeding and prolapse scores and more patients were very satisfied (73% vs 54%) than with medical or instrumental treatment

    Who was studied
    adults with hemorrhoidal disease seen in a French clinic
    What they received
    surgical treatment for hemorrhoids
    Compared with
    medical or instrumental (non-surgical) treatment for hemorrhoids
    Main outcome
    change in bleeding and prolapse symptom scores and patient satisfaction after treatment
    Quality
    it's a single-center observational study without randomization, so patients weren't assigned by chance to surgery or other treatment, making it hard to know if surgery itself caused the difference.
    Limitations
    Single-center, non-randomized comparison between treatment groups; satisfaction is a subjective measure; abstract does not describe how skin tags themselves relate to any danger or complication, only that they predict likelihood of surgery being chosen.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n 472 patients
    • population Prospective single-center study from July to December 2021 including 472 patients.
    • intervention Treatment modalities were medical (44%),±instrumental (72%), and surgical (17%).
    • comparator Treatment modalities were medical (44%),±instrumental (72%), and surgical (17%).
    • primaryOutcome the bleeding score and prolapse score decreased significantly
    • result improvement was more marked in the surgery group with a better rate of "very good satisfaction" (73% vs. 54%, P=0.003)
    • result Factors associated with likelihood of surgical treatment were: age>44years, hypertrophic perianal skin tags, high scores (Bristol>5, bleeding>5, prolapse>2), severe impact on quality of life, smoking and reading during bowel movements.

    J Visc Surg · PMID 38580520 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Alvarez-Downing et al. 2022

    'Bumps down under:' hemorrhoids, skin tags and all things perianal

    Doesn't address skin tag danger.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question

    size not given2022

    The abstract does not report any findings about skin tags being dangerous; it reviews treatment advances for hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal fistula

    Who was studied
    people with common perianal conditions like hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal fistula
    What they received
    various treatments for hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal fistula
    Quality
    It is a narrative review of treatment techniques, not a study measuring risk, and it never actually discusses skin tags despite the title.
    Limitations
    No data on skin tags themselves; focuses on surgical and medical treatment of other perianal diseases.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population some of the most common perianal diseases: hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal fistula
    • intervention Treatment of early stage hemorrhoidal disease remains the same. For grades II-IV disease, hemorrhoidal vessel ligation/obliteration with laser or bipolar energy are reported.
    • result Advancements in managing benign anorectal disease are ongoing. Several reports are novel, whereas others involve enhancing well-established treatment options by either operative technique or patient selection.

    Curr Opin Gastroenterol · PMID 34636364 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Zaki et al. 2021

    Anal skin tag - An unusual presenting feature of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis in a neonate

    Skin tag linked to treatable food allergy, not danger.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question

    1 people2021

    complete recovery after starting amino acid formula

    Who was studied
    a 26-day-old breastfed baby with blood in stools and anal skin tags
    What they received
    amino acid formula (after elimination diet and hydrolyzed formula failed)
    Compared with
    no comparator (single case)
    Main outcome
    recovery from blood in stools / allergic proctocolitis
    Quality
    This is a single case report, so it cannot show whether skin tags themselves are dangerous or reliably predict any condition.
    Limitations
    Single case report; cannot establish general risk or causation; no control group.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population A 26-day-old baby presented with history of passing intermittent blood in stools for two days.
    • intervention the baby was started on amino acid formula with complete recovery
    • comparator poor response to elimination diet in the mother and extensively hydrolysed formula
    • primaryOutcome complete recovery
    • result the baby was started on amino acid formula with complete recovery
    • n A 26-day-old baby presented

    J Neonatal Perinatal Med · PMID 33216045 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Herold 2020

    [Differential diagnosis of hemorrhoidal disease]

    Skin tags listed only as diagnosis categoryNarrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question

    size not given2020

    The abstract only lists skin tags as one of several phenotype findings to be differentiated from hemorrhoids; it gives no data on whether skin tags themselves are dangerous.

    Who was studied
    adults with hemorrhoid-like anal symptoms
    What they received
    knowing the differential diagnoses of hemorrhoids (including skin tags)
    Compared with
    other anal conditions such as anal fissure, prolapse, condylomata, and anal cancer
    Main outcome
    distinguishing hemorrhoids and related phenotypes (including skin tags) from other anal diseases
    Quality
    This is a narrative review that only categorizes differential diagnoses and presents no original data or risk assessment for skin tags.
    Limitations
    The abstract does not address the safety or malignant potential of skin tags specifically; it only places them in a list of conditions to distinguish from hemorrhoids.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population Up to 70% of adults suffer from the disease once in their lifetime.
    • intervention knowing about the differential diagnosis of hemorrhoids
    • primaryOutcome One can differentiate between differential diagnoses of symptoms (bleeding, pain, itching, tumor) and differential diagnoses of the phenotype findings (anal prolapse, mucosal prolapse and rectal prolapse, skin tags, hypertrophied anal papillae, condylomata acuminata, anal fissure, perianal venous thrombosis, anal cancer).
    • comparator anal prolapse, mucosal prolapse and rectal prolapse, skin tags, hypertrophied anal papillae, condylomata acuminata, anal fissure, perianal venous thrombosis, anal cancer
    • result differential diagnoses of the phenotype findings (anal prolapse, mucosal prolapse and rectal prolapse, skin tags, hypertrophied anal papillae, condylomata acuminata, anal fissure, perianal venous thrombosis, anal cancer)

    Hautarzt · PMID 32077979 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • D'Ugo et al. 2015

    Hemorrhoids and anal fissures in inflammatory bowel disease

    Does not address skin tag danger directly.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question

    size not given2015

    Review concludes spontaneous healing is possible, medical therapy should be tried first, and surgery should be used selectively because of higher complication risk in IBD patients

    Who was studied
    people with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
    What they received
    medical therapy, with selective surgery for hemorrhoids and anal fissures
    Compared with
    non-IBD population / conservative versus surgical management
    Main outcome
    incidence, symptoms and treatment outcomes of hemorrhoids and anal fissures in IBD
    Quality
    This is a narrative review based on 'small series' and does not directly study whether skin tags themselves are dangerous.
    Limitations
    Abstract states literature is 'scant and based on small series'; skin tags are only mentioned once as an example of a benign condition and are not the focus of the review.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
    • intervention the first line management should be a medical therapy
    • comparator higher in IBD than in the general populations
    • primaryOutcome the incidence, symptoms and treatment options of hemorrhoids and anal fissures in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
    • result Considering that a spontaneous healing is possible, the first line management should be a medical therapy.
    • result it is possible a judicious choice of surgical options on a highly selective basis; this can lead to acceptable results, but the risk of possible complications needs to be considered
    • limitations literature data is scant and based on small series
    • population hemorrhoids, skin tags and fissures

    Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol · PMID 26446683 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Juncadella et al. 2015

    Perianal Crohn's disease: a review

    No info on danger of skin tags.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question

    size not given2015

    states that surgery should not be the first approach for skin tags, hemorrhoids or fissures when there is active proctitis, but does not state whether skin tags themselves are dangerous

    Who was studied
    people with perianal Crohn's disease
    What they received
    medical and surgical treatments for perianal complications of Crohn's disease, including skin tags
    Compared with
    different treatment approaches and timing (e.g., surgery vs medical therapy first)
    Main outcome
    treatment approach and outcomes for perianal Crohn's complications
    Quality
    This is a general review article about Crohn's disease treatment, not a study measuring whether skin tags are dangerous, so it gives no real evidence on that question.
    Limitations
    The abstract is a narrative review of perianal Crohn's disease treatments overall; it does not focus on or specifically study the safety or danger of skin tags.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population Perianal involvement in Crohn's disease (CD), which encompasses fistulas, ulcers, abscesses, strictures and cancer, can lead to significant impairment in quality of life.
    • intervention The objective of this article is to review the major perianal complications of CD and the current medical and surgical modalities used to treat them.
    • result In CD, clinicians should avoid surgery as a first-line approach for skin tags, hemorrhoids or fissures in the setting of proctitis.
    • comparator Surgery, particularly lateral internal sphincterotomy, in combination with medical therapy is associated with higher fissure healing rates in the absence of proctitis.
    • primaryOutcome The objective of this article is to review the major perianal complications of CD and the current medical and surgical modalities used to treat them.

    Postgrad Med · PMID 25746229 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Ljubojevic et al. 2014

    HPV-associated diseases

    HPV found in skin tags, meaning unclearNarrative reviewLow qualityRelated question

    size not given2014

    HPV has been detected in skin tags along with other benign and malignant conditions, but HPV can also be found on healthy skin

    Who was studied
    people with HPV-related skin and mucosal conditions
    What they received
    not applicable - review of HPV-associated diseases
    Main outcome
    types of diseases and lesions associated with HPV
    Quality
    this is a general narrative review that only mentions skin tags briefly without specific data on risk or danger
    Limitations
    abstract does not focus specifically on anal skin tags or their danger, and does not report how often HPV is found in skin tags versus healthy skin

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population Disease associated with HPV can be divided into skin and mucosal lesion of the genital and extragenital regions.
    • intervention HPVs have also been detected in skin tags, lichen sclerosus, seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses, epidermal cysts, psoriatic plaques, and plucked hairs, but cutaneous HPV can be found on healthy skin.
    • result but cutaneous HPV can be found on healthy skin
    • primaryOutcome They are associated with a spectrum of diseases, from benign verrucae vulgares and condylomata acuminata to the malignancies of the cervix, vulva, anus, and penis.

    Clin Dermatol · PMID 24559558 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Connelly et al. 2012

    Mutation in TAGAP is protective of anal sepsis in ileocolic Crohn's disease

    Gene variant linked to milder, non-septic anal disease.Case-controlVery low qualityRelated question

    116 people2012

    Carrying the gene variant was linked to a much lower chance of severe anal sepsis, while normal-gene patients had the highest risk of abscesses, fistulas and needing a stoma

    Who was studied
    Adults with Crohn's disease affecting the ileum and colon, grouped by whether they had severe (abscess/fistula), mild (skin tags, fissures, pain) or no anal disease
    What they received
    Carrying a gene variant (SNP rs212388) linked to immune T-cell activation
    Compared with
    Having the normal (wild-type) version of the gene
    Main outcome
    Whether patients developed severe (septic) anal complications versus milder anal disease versus none
    Quality
    This was a small, single-center retrospective genetic analysis with subgroups of only 17-64 patients, so the finding needs confirmation before it can be trusted.
    Limitations
    Retrospective registry analysis, small subgroup sizes, single genetic marker tested among many, no mention of correction for multiple comparisons or external validation

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population One hundred sixteen patients with ileocolonic Crohn's disease were identified and assigned to septic anal disease (abscesses/fistulas, n = 35), benign anal disease (skin tags/fissures/isolated pain, n = 17), and no anal disease (n = 64) cohorts.
    • n One hundred sixteen patients with ileocolonic Crohn's disease were identified
    • intervention Single-nucleotide polymorphism rs212388 negatively correlated with the presence of anal disease overall and septic disease specifically.
    • comparator The homozygous wild-type group had the highest risk of septic disease and included 3 of 4 patients requiring diverting ileostomies.
    • primaryOutcome This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with anal disease generally, septic anal disease specifically and the responsivity to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment.
    • result The presence of the non-wild-type allele 'G' was protective of anal sepsis with homo- and heterozygotes having a 75% chance of no anal disease (p = 0.0001).

    Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 23044675 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Maitra et al. 2012

    Obstructive perianal lesion in a 75-year-old man

    Scary-looking mass was just hemorrhoids.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question

    1 people1 month post-admission

    the mass looked malignant but was not; it resolved with dressings and shrank to a perianal skin tag, diagnosed as prolapsed haemorrhoids

    Who was studied
    a 75-year-old man with a perianal mass
    What they received
    sugar and charcoal dressings for a fungating peri-anal mass (later treated with haemorrhoidectomy)
    Compared with
    none
    Main outcome
    resolution of the perianal mass and final diagnosis
    Quality
    this is a single patient case report, so it cannot show whether skin tags in general are dangerous.
    Limitations
    single case report; the large mass was actually prolapsed haemorrhoids, not a typical small skin tag, so it may not generalise to ordinary perianal skin tags.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population A 75-year-old man presented with a fungating peri-anal mass which appeared malignant at presentation
    • intervention the mass was treated with sugar and charcoal dressings
    • comparator The patient then underwent an elective haemorrhoidectomy by which time the mass had decreased to a perianal skin tag.
    • primaryOutcome There was a dramatic resolution of the mass with this treatment
    • result the mass had decreased to a perianal skin tag
    • n A 75-year-old man presented

    BMJ Case Rep · PMID 22802557 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Ananiev et al. 2012

    [HPV-associated verrucous carcinoma of the perianal region--complete remission after surgical excision and postoperative monochemotherapy with methotrexat]

    Misdiagnosed cancer, successfully treated, not a skin tag.Case seriesVery low qualityRelated question

    1 peopleSix months later

    No signs of tumor recurrence six months after surgery and chemotherapy

    Who was studied
    48-year-old woman with a lesion in the anal skin area initially thought to be a skin tag
    What they received
    Surgical removal of the lesion followed by methotrexate chemotherapy
    Compared with
    No comparator, single case followed over time
    Main outcome
    Whether the tumor came back after treatment
    Quality
    This is a single patient case report, so it cannot show how often skin tags are actually this kind of cancer or what happens to others.
    Limitations
    Only one patient, short monitoring period, and the lesion was a misdiagnosed cancer rather than a true skin tag, so it does not describe outcomes for ordinary skin tags.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n a case of 48 year-old female patient
    • population treated initially under the diagnosis of perianal skin tags
    • intervention surgical removal of the lesion
    • intervention preventive mono-chemotherapy with methotrexate
    • comparator We present a case of 48 year-old female patient
    • primaryOutcome the provided monitoring has not shown clinical or apparative data on tumor recurrence
    • result Six months later, the provided monitoring has not shown clinical or apparative data on tumor recurrence

    Akush Ginekol (Sofiia) · PMID 22639782 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Weyandt 2010

    [Acute and chronic anal ulcers]

    Skin tags are normal with fissures, not a warning sign themselves.Narrative reviewLow qualityRelated question

    size not given2010

    the abstract describes skin tags as part of the typical pattern seen with chronic anal fissures, not as a dangerous finding on their own; it stresses that unusual symptoms need further workup to rule out other diseases including cancer

    Who was studied
    people with anal ulcers or skin changes near the anus
    Main outcome
    correct diagnosis of the cause of anal ulceration
    Quality
    this is a descriptive narrative review discussing diagnosis, not a study testing whether skin tags themselves are harmful.
    Limitations
    abstract is general clinical guidance, not a study with data on skin tags specifically, and no patient numbers or outcomes are given.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population Characteristic symptoms of chronic fissures are severe pain during defecation accompanied by the triad of ulceration, hypertrophic anal papilla and external skin tag.
    • primaryOutcome Only the correct diagnosis will lead to causal and effective therapy.
    • result If the symptoms deviate other causes of ulceration must be considered. Primarily, malignancies should be excluded.

    Hautarzt · PMID 19997893 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Singh et al. 2004

    Perianal Crohn's disease

    Skin tags can signal Crohn's disease.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question

    size not given2004

    skin tags are listed as one of several manifestations of perianal Crohn's disease, alongside ulcers, fissures, abscesses, fistulas and stenoses

    Who was studied
    people with perianal Crohn's disease
    Main outcome
    types of perianal Crohn's disease manifestations and treatment outcomes
    Quality
    this is a narrative review describing treatment options generally, not a study testing whether skin tags themselves are dangerous.
    Limitations
    abstract does not specifically address whether isolated skin tags (outside Crohn's disease) carry risk; it only notes skin tags as one feature of Crohn's-related perianal disease.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • population perianal Crohn's disease
    • result Perianal Crohn's disease can manifest as skin tags, ulcers, fissures, abscesses, fistulas or stenoses.
    • primaryOutcome its incidence, classification, assessment and management

    Br J Surg · PMID 15227686 · Read it on PubMed ↗

  • Richard et al. 1997

    Outcome of the pelvic pouch procedure in patients with prior perianal disease

    Lesion type didn't predict worse outcomes.RetrospectiveLow qualityRelated question

    753 people1997

    Patients with prior perianal disease had higher leak and complication rates, but overall pouch failure was not significantly different, and outcomes did not differ by type of perianal lesion (including skin tags)

    Who was studied
    patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis who had pelvic pouch surgery, some with prior perianal disease including skin tags
    What they received
    having prior perianal disease (including fissures, abscesses, fistulas, hemorrhoids/skin tags) before pelvic pouch surgery
    Compared with
    patients with no prior perianal disease before pelvic pouch surgery
    Main outcome
    rates of anastomotic leak, perianal complications, and overall pouch failure after surgery
    Quality
    This is a retrospective surgical outcomes study with a small subgroup (25 patients) having skin tags lumped together with other perianal conditions, so it can't show whether skin tags specifically are risky.
    Limitations
    Skin tags were combined with hemorrhoids and analyzed only as part of a broader perianal disease group alongside fissures, abscesses, and fistulas, not studied alone; this is about surgical pouch outcomes in IBD patients, not general risk of anal skin tags.

    Taken word for word from the abstract

    • n 52 of 753 patients (6.9 percent) who had a pelvic pouch procedure were prospectively identified as having perianal disease
    • population patients with presumed ulcerative colitis and significant perianal disease
    • intervention significant hemorrhoids/skin tags (25)
    • comparator compared with the outcome of 701 pelvic pouch patients with no prior perianal disease (Group II)
    • primaryOutcome The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prior perianal disease on pelvic pouch outcome.
    • result Subgroup analysis of Group I patients showed no significant difference in outcome according to type of perianal lesion or a history of perianal surgery.
    • result Total pouch failure rate was not significantly different between the two groups (11.5 vs. 7.6 percent; P > 0.05).

    Dis Colon Rectum · PMID 9194457 · Read it on PubMed ↗

How we searchedThe exact query, the date it ran, and what came back — so you can run it yourself.
Searched
PubMed · ClinicalTrials.gov · Crossref on 2026-10-13
The exact search — paste this into PubMed to repeat it
("Skin Tags"[tiab] OR "acrochordon"[tiab] OR "skin tag"[tiab] OR "Skin Tags"[tiab]) AND ("Anus Diseases"[Mesh] OR "Anal Canal"[Mesh] OR anal[tiab] OR perianal[tiab] OR anus[tiab]) AND (malignant[tiab] OR malignancy[tiab] OR cancer[tiab] OR neoplasm[tiab] OR risk[tiab] OR biopsy[tiab] OR dangerous[tiab])
PubMed expanded that to: ("Skin Tags"[Title/Abstract] OR "acrochordon"[Title/Abstract] OR "skin tag"[Title/Abstract] OR "Skin Tags"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("Anus Diseases"[MeSH Terms] OR "Anal Canal"[MeSH Terms] OR "anal"[Title/Abstract] OR "perianal"[Title/Abstract] OR "anus"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("malignant"[Title/Abstract] OR "malignancy"[Title/Abstract] OR "cancer"[Title/Abstract] OR "neoplasm"[Title/Abstract] OR "risk"[Title/Abstract] OR "biopsy"[Title/Abstract] OR "dangerous"[Title/Abstract])
What came back
49 records found · 48 read · 22 answered the question
Included
  • Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question
Excluded
  • Records about a different condition or intervention
  • Records reporting no outcome
  • Retracted publications, which are listed but excluded from every count
Limits
  • Details were read from abstracts, not full papers, so anything reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured here.
  • Fields were read from abstracts, not full text, so detail reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured.
  • Evidence strength is adapted from the GRADE framework. It is not a GRADE assessment and was not produced by a GRADE panel.

Automated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.

How we grade evidence →

  1. 49records came back from the search
  2. 48were read
  3. 22actually answered the question
Risks and safetyReported side effects and who should be careful.
  • A man with colorectal cancer was found to have cancer cells inside what looked like an ordinary hemorrhoidal skin tag.
  • A young man with Crohn's disease had a skin tag that turned into cancer over time.
  • In people with Crohn's disease, a skin tag has sometimes turned out to be hiding a deeper problem, like a fistula or a narrowed rectum, discovered only after biopsy or surgery.
  • Removing skin tags along with hemorrhoid surgery was linked to more pain afterward than leaving them in place.
Why people try thisThe reasoning behind the question — not a claim that it works.
  • A new bump near the anus feels alarming, and searching online feels more private than calling a doctor.
  • Anything unusual in that area gets mentally linked to cancer, even though most such bumps are leftover skin from an old hemorrhoid or fissure.
  • Embarrassment about the location often delays an in-person exam, so people look for a quick yes-or-no answer first.
Common questionsShort answers, drawn from the same studies.
Is an anus skin tag dangerous?
Usually not — most anal skin tags are leftover skin from an old hemorrhoid or healed fissure. But the direct evidence is only two small case reports, and one of them did find a cancer hidden inside a tag, so a new or changing tag is worth having a doctor look at.
Are skin tags around the anus dangerous?
The studies on this are too few and too mixed to say for certain either way. One case found a cancer deposit inside a tag; another found a tag that looked scary but was harmless. Neither result tells you what's typical.
Are anal tags dangerous?
In the cases that have been reported, most anal tags turned out to be harmless, but a few individual case reports describe tags linked to cancer or to hidden Crohn's complications. There isn't a large study that tells you the overall odds.
Are anal warts dangerous?
Warts and skin tags are different things — warts are caused by HPV, a virus, while tags are usually leftover skin. One review found HPV can sometimes be detected in skin tags too, but it didn't measure how often or what that means, so this page's evidence doesn't directly answer the wart question.
Is anal dangerous?
If you're asking about a bump or skin tag near the anus, the honest answer is that the evidence is too thin to say it's dangerous or safe in general — it's usually harmless, but a doctor should check anything new, growing, bleeding, or painful.

This is information, not advice

This page summarises published research. It cannot tell you what is happening in your own body, and evidence changes. If something is bleeding, painful, or new, it is worth being looked at — that is a different question from the one on this page, and a better one to bring to a consultation.

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Automated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.

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