Radiation
It is a common belief that skin tags are caused by sun exposure, but the scientific reasoning behind this is pretty complicated. Radiation, whether UV or other types, causes changes in the molecules that make up the cells of our bodies in a process called ionization. Ionization causes radiation damage to DNA.
This can result in either loss of information or replication errors, which leads to mutations. These mutations are linked with various diseases and medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders and cancer. For example, ionizing radiation has been reported to cause skin cancer in humans and rats. However, skin tags are not associated with direct DNA damage. Rather, they are triggered by an immune response to an underlying disease.
Some research indicates that skin tags appear more frequently following exposure to UV radiation (or this is more obvious because people notice them). This is because when UV light hits the skin, it triggers an immune response when it hits the skin. White blood cells flood the area and attempt to eliminate any pathogens (like bacteria) associated with the radiation exposure. Skin tags are one possible byproduct of this immune response. They’re similar to warts in that they’re benign tumors caused by an overzealous immune system.
