Doctors dismissed my unsightly skin tags as cosmetic nuisance… but they were an early warning sign of a hidden health issue that hits millions of Americans

They are often overlooked as harmless; But those little skin tags on your neck or under your arms could be an early sign of a hidden health problem.

Experts say people who develop many small, fleshy growths are more likely to have insulin resistance, a little-known condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes.

They also warn that many doctors fail to connect these two issues; This means that patients suffering from skin tags may be falsely reassured that they are merely a cosmetic problem.

Skin tags are extremely common and usually nothing to worry about; They are thought to form as a result of constant friction on the skin surface.

But when they appear in clusters, especially around the neck, armpit or groin, experts say it could be a clue that the body is having trouble processing sugar properly.

This happens when cells stop responding to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. The body tries to compensate by pumping more, and this hormonal imbalance is thought to trigger the growth of skin tags.

The problem is that insulin resistance can go unnoticed for years. Even though damage is silently occurring in the background, blood sugar levels may still appear ‘normal’ on standard tests.

Over time, this condition can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease and fatty liver disease.

Doctors emphasize that having a single skin tag is not a cause for concern. But if you notice a lot of things popping up out of nowhere, it might be worth checking; especially if you have other risk factors, such as weight gain or a family history of diabetes.

A simple blood test from your GP can assess your risk and catch problems early, when they are much easier to reverse.

For years, many doctors told 44-year-old Janet Peets, who lives in California, that the skin tags on her body were just a result of aging.

They first appeared during pregnancy 15 years ago, disappeared and reappeared in 2022. Each of the doctors assured me that the growths were purely cosmetic and nothing to worry about. None suggested a link to metabolic health.

Beyond the skin tags, Peets reported at least 12 symptoms of metabolic dysfunction, including an unexplained 35-pound weight gain in nine months, severe fatigue after meals, persistent brain fog that left him unable to finish sentences, persistent cravings for carbohydrates, increased blood pressure that did not respond to medication, and elevated liver enzymes.

Peets told news week He spent years researching his own symptoms. However, after specifically asking her doctor if insulin resistance might be the answer, the diagnosis was confirmed.

When insulin resistance was diagnosed in 2025, it was determined that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was also present and high blood pressure continued.

He said the signs had been ‘developing for years’ but no medical professional had connected the dots.

Janet Peets, a 44-year-old California resident with a background in neuroscience, spent years being told that skin tags, weight gain, and brain fog were just signs of aging.

After researching her own symptoms, she asked her doctor about insulin resistance, and in 2025, the diagnosis was confirmed, along with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

He said: ‘When I found out it was one of those moments when everything seemed to make sense. ‘I was walking around with no visible sign of what was happening metabolically and no one was talking about it.’

Following his diagnosis, Peets followed a strict regimen to reverse his condition. He consumes 100 grams of protein a day while keeping carbohydrates below 50 grams.

He does resistance training several times a week, walks after every meal, takes 10,000 steps a day and takes special supplements.

After just ten weeks of implementing these changes, Peets lost 18 pounds. Cravings are completely gone, energy levels are noticeably increased, and plantar fasciitis is completely resolved.

While Peets’ story is striking, it is far from an isolated case. Medical research has long established a direct biological link between multiple skin tags and underlying metabolic dysfunction.

Specifically, high insulin levels trigger the proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, cells that form the outer layer of skin and connective tissue. This overgrowth manifests externally as acrochordons, commonly known as skin tags.

Skin tags associated with insulin resistance tend to appear in certain areas, such as the neck, armpits, and groin.

Among U.S. adults ages 20 and older, county-level data show diagnosed diabetes rates range widely, from as low as 4.4 percent to as high as 18.6 percent in 2023, depending on the county.

The rate of new cases of diabetes among adults aged 18 and over was the same in 2000 and 2023: 6.2 per 1,000 people. Rates dropped significantly from 2008 to 2020, then rose slightly after 2020

These are not random places. These areas contain higher concentrations of cells that are more sensitive to hormonal stimulation.

When multiple tags appear in these regions, especially in an elderly or non-obese patient, this raises a red flag for metabolic disease.

Insulin resistance can be present for a decade or more without even registering on a standard fasting glucose test. The pancreas works overtime to keep blood sugar normal, so glucose levels appear healthy even when insulin becomes dangerously high.

When glucose finally rises, the pancreas is often exhausted and the patient has already developed prediabetes, or full-blown type 2 diabetes. This is why skin tags are so valuable as an early warning system.

A patient with multiple skin tags and normal blood sugar may still have severe insulin resistance and may be years closer to a fatal diagnosis than thought.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recognizes that skin tags are common in people who are overweight, pregnant, or have loose skin, but are also associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, many physicians fail to establish this connection in their routine practice.

Experts recommend that any patient presenting with multiple skin tags, especially those accompanied by fatigue, belly fat, high blood pressure, or unexplained weight changes, should have not only a glucose test but also a fasting insulin test.

A comprehensive metabolic panel including liver enzymes is also recommended.

“I know a lot of women who felt helpless and were trying to figure out how to regain their health and sanity, and I was one of them,” Peets said.

‘Even if your doctor tells you you’re fine, listen to your body. ‘You don’t have to accept a slow decline as inevitable and you deserve to be equipped with the knowledge to start moving the needle in the right direction.’