Will an anal skin tag go away on its own?

There's no study that followed adults with an ordinary anal skin tag to see if it disappears untreated. The closest evidence, from people with Crohn's disease followed for 10 years, found that tags usually stayed rather than going away.

Do anal skin tags usually not go away on their own?

The related evidence available leans that way: in Crohn's disease patients, tags that had formed were still present after 10 years, and a case report found an untreated tag grew bigger rather than shrinking. But no study tested this in people without Crohn's disease, so it isn't proven for everyone.

Can extra skin near the anus (a skin tag) go away on its own?

In infants and young children, this kind of skin lesion often does go away by itself, especially if it's linked to constipation that gets treated. That pattern has not been shown in adults.

Is an anal skin tag usually permanent once it forms?

The limited evidence suggests many persist for years once they appear, based on studies in people with Crohn's disease. There's no research following an isolated tag in an otherwise healthy adult long enough to say for certain.

Should I see a doctor about it instead of waiting?

If a tag is causing itching, irritation, or trouble with hygiene, or if it is growing, it's worth having a doctor look at it, since no study has shown these problems resolve by themselves. A doctor can also confirm it is a simple skin tag and not something else.

Do skin tags around the anus go away on their own?

Name: Do skin tags around the anus go away on their own?
Published: 2026-10-26
Keywords: will anal skin tag go away, do anal tags go away, anal skin tag usually does not go away on its own, anal skin tag go away on its own, anal skin tag usually does not go away on its own authoritative source, extra skin in anus skin tag can they go away on their own, do skin tags around anus go away, anal skin tag go away on its own usually permanent

In adults who have a skin tag at the anal verge, what proportion resolve spontaneously without treatment, and how does their size or symptoms change over time if left untreated?

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Evidence review in plain language · compiled 2026-10-26 · checked 2026-10-26 · next 2026-11-26 · automated review, how it works

Bottom line

No study has directly tracked adults with an isolated anal skin tag left untreated, so there is no clear answer from research; the limited related evidence suggests that, once formed, these tags tend to stay rather than disappear.

Most of what is known comes from people with Crohn's disease or from single case reports, not from healthy adults with an ordinary anal skin tag. In those groups, skin tags that had already formed usually persisted for years, and one case of an untreated tag grew larger over time rather than shrinking.

How well studied

Little evidence

The 4 human studies found measure a related question rather than this one, so they can only be read indirectly.

This question asks how a condition behaves over time, not whether a treatment works, so there is no benefit-or-harm verdict. What can be shown is how well it has been studied.

answer it directly: 0answer it directly
studies found: 8studies found
randomised trials: 0randomised trials
people studied: 219people studied
years covered: 1980–2026years covered

What the research shows

Spontaneous resolution without treatment
In Crohn's disease patients followed for 10 years, skin tags were still present in most people and rarely resolved; a case report of an untreated tag found it grew rather than disappeared. No study followed healthy adults with an isolated tag to see if it goes away.[1,2]
Not found
Change in size over months to years
Only one case report tracked size over time: a skin tag grew progressively over 3 years without treatment, eventually becoming very large. No study measured typical size change in ordinary, smaller skin tags.[1]
Too little evidence
Persistence rate at long-term follow-up
In a 10-year study of people with Crohn's disease, skin tags that had formed were still present in most patients at the end of follow-up, and new tags rarely appeared. This was not measured in people without Crohn's disease.[1]
Not found
Development of symptoms (itching, hygiene difficulty, irritation) over time
No study in the table tracked whether an untreated anal skin tag becomes itchy, irritated, or harder to keep clean as time passes.
Not studied
Rate of eventual surgical removal due to persistence or symptoms
One case report describes a tag that grew for 3 years before being surgically removed. A separate small study of 8 Crohn's patients with skin tags found none needed surgery, but did not say whether the tags themselves went away. These findings point in different directions and involve very different situations.[1,2]
Too little evidence

What the studies found

In young children, skin tags present from birth often went away on their own, and tags linked to constipation improved once the constipation was treated.[1]
In adults with Crohn's disease who were on ongoing treatment for their bowel disease, some perianal skin tags were reported to resolve.[1]

Important limitations

None of the 8 studies followed ordinary adults with an isolated anal skin tag and no other condition; most involved people with Crohn's disease, pregnancy, childhood injury, or infancy.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
The evidence specific to adult perianal skin tags is limited to a handful of small, indirect studies: a single case report of a giant skin tag in a pregnant woman, a study of 4 children with injuries from sexual abuse, and a subgroup of 8 Crohn's disease patients within a larger cohort. None of these studied ordinary skin tags in otherwise healthy adults.[1,2,3]
Where resolution was reported, it often happened alongside other treatment, such as Crohn's disease therapy or fixing constipation, so it does not show what happens when a tag is truly left alone.[1,2]

What kind of studies

Narrative review4 · 50%
Case series2 · 25%
Retrospective1 · 13%
Prospective cohort1 · 13%

The key studies

Liu et al. 2026
Clinical recognition, management, and research progress of infantile perianal protrusion: a narrative review and literature-based case aggregation
Often resolves on its own, in infantsNarrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
169 people2026
Lesions present from birth/early life (constitutional type) were usually asymptomatic and often went away by themselves; lesions linked to constipation or irritation improved once those causes were treated
Who was studied
Mostly young children (and a few adult women) with a perianal skin protrusion/lesion near the anus, called infantile perianal protrusion
Main outcome
Whether the perianal lesion goes away on its own over time, without treatment
Quality
This is a narrative review pooling mostly case reports and small case series in infants, not a study that directly followed adults with perianal skin tags over time.
Limitations
Evidence is based on aggregated case reports/series rather than a prospective follow-up study, population is mainly infants/children rather than adults, and outcome reporting across cases was inconsistent.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Infantile perianal protrusion (IPP) is a benign clinical lesion or phenotype, usually arising from or adjoining the anal verge and occurring predominantly in girls.
- n comprising 163 children and 6 adult women
- primaryOutcome we extracted and analysed data on nomenclature, demographic characteristics, lesion morphology and location, associated conditions, proposed pathogenesis, histopathological and dermoscopic features, management, and outcomes
- result Constitutional lesions were typically asymptomatic and often self-resolving. Acquired functional lesions were frequently associated with constipation or local irritation and improved after management of contributing factors.
- result IPP is usually a benign anal-verge/perianal clinical lesion with a favorable course.
Front Pediatr · PMID 42920869 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Abreu Marques et al. 2025
Non-Fistulizing Perianal Disease in Crohn's Disease: Clinical Significance, Pathogenesis, and Management Strategies
Sometimes resolve with Crohn's treatmentNarrative reviewLow qualityRelated question
size not given2025
Lesions including skin tags may resolve spontaneously while patients are on ongoing Crohn's disease therapy or additional conservative measures, but the abstract does not separate skin tags from other lesion types or describe resolution without any treatment
Who was studied
Adults with Crohn's disease who develop perianal skin tags and other perianal lesions
Main outcome
Whether non-fistulizing perianal lesions (including skin tags) resolve over time
Quality
This is a narrative review (not a controlled study) of patients with Crohn's disease, and it lumps skin tags together with fissures, ulcers and strictures without separating outcomes for skin tags alone or describing truly untreated (no CD therapy) resolution.
Limitations
The population is Crohn's disease patients, not the general population with isolated perianal skin tags; resolution is described as occurring 'with ongoing CD therapy or additional conservative measures,' not as a natural history without treatment; skin tags are not analyzed separately from other lesion types.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population approximately 45% of patients with CD develop non-fistulizing perianal manifestations, including fissures, ulcers, strictures, and skin tags
- result These lesions may resolve spontaneously with the ongoing CD therapy or additional conservative measures, but some evolve into more complex conditions, with challenging management.
- primaryOutcome These lesions may resolve spontaneously with the ongoing CD therapy or additional conservative measures
J Clin Med · PMID 41464711 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Sogoba et al. 2019
[Giant anal fibroepithelial polyp during pregnancy: a case study]
Grew larger over years, not awayCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
1 people3 years
The growth developed progressively over 3 years, becoming giant (21x12x7cm), and did not go away on its own; it was eventually removed surgically
Who was studied
A 31-year-old pregnant woman with a skin tag (fibroepithelial polyp) near the anus
Main outcome
Whether the skin tag changed size over time without treatment
Quality
This is a single case report of one unusual, very large growth in a pregnant woman, so it tells us little about what typically happens to ordinary perianal skin tags.
Limitations
Single case, describes an unusually large growth (giant fibroepithelial polyp) in a pregnant patient, and the abstract does not describe the natural course of typical smaller perianal skin tags in the general population.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population a 31-year old multiparous woman
- intervention Surgical resection was preformed under spinal anesthesia
- primaryOutcome It developed progressively over the previous 3 years.
- result It developed progressively over the previous 3 years.
- result The specimen measured 21x12x7cm and was covered by the skin.
- n a case of giant anal fibroepithelial polyp in a 31-year old multiparous woman
Pan Afr Med J · PMID 31693725 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Ingle et al. 2007
The natural history of perianal Crohn's disease
Tend to persist, don't go awayNarrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2007
Skin tags, along with fissures and haemorrhoids, tend to persist over time rather than resolve, and are usually just watched or treated with creams rather than going away on their own
Who was studied
People with Crohn's disease who have perianal lesions, including skin tags
Main outcome
Whether perianal skin tags go away over time
Quality
This is a general review article about Crohn's disease, not a study tracking skin tags specifically in the general population, and gives no numbers or follow-up details.
Limitations
The abstract is about perianal disease in Crohn's patients specifically, not isolated perianal skin tags in the general population; it is a narrative review with no original data, numbers, or follow-up time given.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Perianal lesions are exceedingly common in Crohn's disease and many patients have more than one type of lesion.
- primaryOutcome Skin tags, fissures and haemorrhoids may persist over time and are usually managed expectantly or with topical therapy.
- result Skin tags, fissures and haemorrhoids may persist over time and are usually managed expectantly or with topical therapy.
Dig Liver Dis · PMID 17720635 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Kangas 1991
Anal lesions complicating Crohn's disease
Not reported whether tags resolved.RetrospectiveVery low qualityRelated question
8 people12 years
The abstract reports that 8 of 11 new anal symptom cases were skin tags and that these patients did not need surgery, but it does not state whether the skin tags disappeared or persisted
Who was studied
Adults with Crohn's disease who developed new anal symptoms during follow-up after surgery
Main outcome
Whether perianal skin tags resolved on their own over time
Quality
This is a small retrospective subgroup within a specific Crohn's disease population, and it never actually reports whether the skin tags went away or stayed.
Limitations
Population limited to Crohn's disease patients after anal surgery, very small subgroup (8 patients) with skin tags, and the abstract does not track the skin tags' fate over time, only whether surgery was needed.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population On re-examination of all 72 patients with Crohn's disease there were 11 new cases with anal symptoms after a median follow-up of 12 years (eight cases with skin tags and three with anal stenosis)
- n eight cases with skin tags
- result these patients have not required surgery
- primaryOutcome eight cases with skin tags and three with anal stenosis
Ann Chir Gynaecol · PMID 1814255 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Buchmann et al. 1980
Natural history of perianal Crohn's disease. Ten year follow-up: a plea for conservatism
Tags often persisted, new ones rare.Prospective cohortLow qualityRelated question
37 people10 year
Skin tags were still present in most patients after 10 years, and new tags rarely formed
Who was studied
Adults with Crohn's disease who had perianal lesions including skin tags
Main outcome
Whether perianal skin tags (and other anal lesions) persisted or resolved over 10 years without treatment
Quality
The study only looked at Crohn's disease patients with major loss to follow-up (just 61 of 85 survivors re-examined), so it may not reflect ordinary perianal skin tags in people without Crohn's disease.
Limitations
Population limited to biopsy-proven Crohn's disease patients; substantial attrition (only 61 of 85 surviving patients followed to proctoscopy); retrospective framing of a cohort originally meant for Crohn's disease outcomes, not isolated skin tags.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population A 10 year follow-up of 109 patients with histologic Crohn's disease and anal lesions is reported.
- n Anal skin tags were still evident in 25 of 37 patients (68 percent), but new tags have appeared in only 2 patients.
- primaryOutcome Anal skin tags were still evident in 25 of 37 patients (68 percent), but new tags have appeared in only 2 patients.
- result Anal skin tags were still evident in 25 of 37 patients (68 percent), but new tags have appeared in only 2 patients.
Am J Surg · PMID 7435823 · Read it on PubMed ↗

What actually helps, on this site

More about the condition:

All 8 studiesEvery study that answered the question, with its design, size and result.

The other 2 studiesEverything else the search returned, including anything retracted.

McCann et al. 1993
Perianal injuries resulting from sexual abuse: a longitudinal study
Skin tag persisted, just less visibleCase seriesVery low qualityRelated question
4 people1 week to 14 months
a skin tag that formed from torn tissue did not disappear; it persisted but became less noticeable as it retracted into surrounding skin folds over the follow-up period
Who was studied
children (ages 4 to 8) with perianal injuries from sexual assault
Main outcome
how perianal injuries, including a skin tag, changed over time without treatment
Quality
this is a tiny case series of only 4 children with abuse-related injuries, not typical adult perianal skin tags, so it gives very weak and indirect evidence for the question asked
Limitations
very small sample (4 children), population is children with traumatic sexual assault injuries rather than adults with ordinary perianal skin tags, and only one child in the series actually developed a skin tag
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population Four children who incurred perianal injuries as a result of a sexual assault were followed on a longitudinal basis
- n Four children
- primaryOutcome followed on a longitudinal basis to document the anatomical changes that ensued
- result A skin tag created by the avulsion of the tissues in one subject persisted, although it became less obvious as it retracted into the redundant folds of the perianal tissues over time.
- followUp followed from 1 week to 14 months
Pediatrics · PMID 8424016 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Buchmann 1988
[Anal and perianal operations in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease]
No data on resolution reported.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given1988
The abstract discusses general treatment approach options including watching the natural course, but gives no specific data or finding about whether perianal skin tags resolve on their own.
Who was studied
people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who have anal or perianal problems, including skin tags
Main outcome
how perianal lesions (including skin tags) behave over time and are managed
Quality
This is a general narrative overview of anal surgery in IBD with no specific data, follow-up, or outcomes reported for skin tags.
Limitations
No specific population of isolated perianal skin tags in otherwise healthy adults; focuses on Crohn's disease patients and general management categories without data on natural resolution.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population This study concentrates mainly on Crohn's disease and provides an overview on skin disorders, skin tag, fissure in ano, fistulae and abscess, stenosis, incontinence and the management of these conditions.
- primaryOutcome A decision is necessary between four approaches to treatment: 1. Wait and see regarding the natural course.
- result A decision is necessary between four approaches to treatment: 1. Wait and see regarding the natural course. 2. Treatment of intestinal manifestations. 3. Conservative therapy concentrating on the anal lesion. 4. Local or extensive surgery.
Schweiz Med Wochenschr · PMID 3387972 · 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 2026-10-26
The exact search — paste this into PubMed to repeat it: ("Skin Tags"[tiab] OR acrochordon*[tiab] OR "skin tag"[tiab] OR "Skin Tags"[tiab] OR "fibroepithelial polyp"[tiab]) AND (anal[tiab] OR anus[tiab] OR perianal[tiab] OR anorectal[tiab]) AND ("natural history"[tiab] OR spontaneous[tiab] OR regress*[tiab] OR resolve*[tiab] OR persist*[tiab] OR course[tiab] OR outcome*[tiab]); PubMed expanded that to: ("Skin Tags"[Title/Abstract] OR "acrochordon*"[Title/Abstract] OR "skin tag"[Title/Abstract] OR "Skin Tags"[Title/Abstract] OR "fibroepithelial polyp"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("anal"[Title/Abstract] OR "anus"[Title/Abstract] OR "perianal"[Title/Abstract] OR "anorectal"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("natural history"[Title/Abstract] OR "spontaneous"[Title/Abstract] OR "regress*"[Title/Abstract] OR "resolve*"[Title/Abstract] OR "persist*"[Title/Abstract] OR "course"[Title/Abstract] OR "outcome*"[Title/Abstract])
What came back: 84 records found · 83 read · 8 answered the question
Included: Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question
Excluded: Records about a different condition or intervention
Studies mainly about Anal warts (condylomata acuminata)
Studies mainly about Sentinel pile from an anal fissure
Studies mainly about External hemorrhoids
Studies mainly about Pilonidal cyst skin changes
Studies mainly about Surgical or in-office removal of the skin tag
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.

84records came back from the search
83were read
8actually answered the question

Risks and safetyReported side effects and who should be careful.

In one case, an untreated skin tag kept growing over 3 years until it became very large before it was removed; this was an unusual, 'giant' case rather than a typical small skin tag.

Why people askWhat brings people to this question.

Wanting to avoid a trip to the doctor or surgery for something that seems minor.
Embarrassment about asking a doctor to look at the area.
Hoping it behaves like a skin tag elsewhere on the body, which usually doesn't need treatment.
Worry about cost or recovery time if removal is suggested.

Common questionsShort answers, drawn from the same studies.

Will an anal skin tag go away on its own?: There's no study that followed adults with an ordinary anal skin tag to see if it disappears untreated. The closest evidence, from people with Crohn's disease followed for 10 years, found that tags usually stayed rather than going away.
Do anal skin tags usually not go away on their own?: The related evidence available leans that way: in Crohn's disease patients, tags that had formed were still present after 10 years, and a case report found an untreated tag grew bigger rather than shrinking. But no study tested this in people without Crohn's disease, so it isn't proven for everyone.
Can extra skin near the anus (a skin tag) go away on its own?: In infants and young children, this kind of skin lesion often does go away by itself, especially if it's linked to constipation that gets treated. That pattern has not been shown in adults.
Is an anal skin tag usually permanent once it forms?: The limited evidence suggests many persist for years once they appear, based on studies in people with Crohn's disease. There's no research following an isolated tag in an otherwise healthy adult long enough to say for certain.
Should I see a doctor about it instead of waiting?: If a tag is causing itching, irritation, or trouble with hygiene, or if it is growing, it's worth having a doctor look at it, since no study has shown these problems resolve by themselves. A doctor can also confirm it is a simple skin tag and not something else.

What has changedEvery re-check, and whether it changed the answer.

2026-10-26
Clear the 'Under re-review' backlog: rebuild every remaining first-method (ev-1) page under the current method. 6 new studies · conclusion not studied → not applicable.
The conclusion changed.

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.

Contact the office

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.

Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS · 435 N. Bedford Dr., Suite 308, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · 424.279.8222

Educational information — not medical advice.