An anal skin tag is a small growth of normal skin that forms around the anus. The anus is where a bowel movement (poop) comes out of the body.

An anal skin tag can happen for different reasons. Often, it forms from the skin rubbing together or against clothing. It also can happen after an anal fissure (a small tear in the opening of the anus) or with hemorrhoids (swollen veins in the rectum, the area just inside the anus).

Skin tags are harmless and usually don't need any treatment, but the cause of the anal skin tag may need to be treated.

• Do not try to remove skin tags at home.
• Your child should not twist or rub skin tags.
• Follow any other recommendations that your health care provider gives for treating the cause of the anal skin tag. 

The tag:

• gets red, sore, or swollen
• bleeds or gets bigger

Where else can skin tags grow? Skin tags tend to grow in areas where the skin rubs together (such as the neck, armpit, under the breasts, or in the groin). A person can have one skin tag or many. A skin tag may grow slowly, go away over time, or stay the same size.

Who gets skin tags? Skin tags happen in all age groups, but less often in kids. They can run in families.

Do anal skin tags need treatment? Anal skin tags don't usually need treatment. However, the cause of the anal skin tag (such as hemorrhoids) may need treatment. If a skin tag is painful or bothers your child, the health care provider might recommend removing it.