I have little pieces of skin that are on the outside of my vagina

Last updated on October 21, 2020

Question:

I have little pieces of skin that are on the outside of my vagina that can be seen. They don’t hurt or itch. They look like little skin balls, maybe moles or something. I don’t know if I should be worried or not. They don’t seem to be irritated or anything, but I don’t know what they are.

Answer:

It sounds like you are describing skin tags. They can vary in size, color, and shape, so yours may not look exactly like the ones shown in this image.

Skin tags can appear anywhere on the body, though they are often seen under the arm. because the skin can get abraded by your arm swinging or by the clothing you wear. You will also find skin tags frequently near where your blouse collar rubs your skin. Obese people will have them develop between the folds of their skin, where the skin rubs together. You can also get them around your trunk where your waistband rubs the skin.

Skin tags, like common warts, are believed to be caused by a virus, though no one has found the precise one. The virus gets into the surface of the skin and causes the skin to grow rapidly. They can be removed but should be done by a doctor. He will either clip the growth out or use liquid nitrogen to freeze the surface of the skin in that area. Unfortunately, there is nothing to stop new tags from continuing to form. Some people are more susceptible to getting skin tags, such as people suffering from type 2 diabetes.