Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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No — skin tags are not dangerous. They are benign, non-cancerous and not contagious, and they
don’t turn into anything sinister. The only real caveat is making sure a growth actually is a skin tag:
occasionally a wart, a mole or, rarely, a skin cancer can be mistaken for one. So a tag that is changing, bleeding,
growing, darkly pigmented or just doesn’t look typical is worth having checked — not because tags are risky, but to
confirm that’s what it is. This guide explains when a “skin tag” deserves a second look.
Why Skin Tags Are Harmless
A skin tag is a benign overgrowth of normal soft tissue. It has no cancer potential, doesn’t spread, and isn’t
caused by infection. Most people develop them with age and friction; many tags simply reflect
metabolic factors like insulin resistance,
which is about general health, not the tag being dangerous.
When to Get One Checked
Have a growth assessed if it:
- Is changing in size, shape or colour;
- Bleeds, crusts or won’t heal;
- Is darkly pigmented or has multiple colours;
- Looks different from a typical soft, skin-coloured tag.
This is about confirming the diagnosis — see how to spot a suspicious mole for the warning signs.
Look-alikes to Rule Out
Warts, moles, seborrhoeic keratoses and (rarely) skin cancers can resemble a tag. A clinician confirms what a
growth is — with a dermatoscope, and histology if there’s any doubt — which is one reason not to remove a “tag”
yourself (see removal gone wrong).
Book a quick assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can a skin tag turn into cancer?
- No. A true skin tag is benign and does not become cancerous. The only concern is that another lesion — including, rarely, a skin cancer — can be mistaken for a tag, which is why a growth that’s changing or atypical should be checked to confirm what it is.
- Are skin tags contagious?
- No. Skin tags are not caused by a virus or infection and cannot be passed to other people or spread on your own body. (Warts, which can look similar, are viral — another reason to confirm the diagnosis.)
- Is it safe to just leave a skin tag alone?
- Yes. A confirmed skin tag needs no treatment and can be left indefinitely. People remove them only for comfort or appearance, or if a tag repeatedly catches and gets irritated.
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