Anorectal Condition
Anal skin tags are small flaps of soft tissue at the anal opening, most often left behind after a thrombosed hemorrhoid has resolved, after a fissure has healed, or after childbirth. They are benign — but they are also frequently mistaken for active hemorrhoids, which delays the right diagnosis and the right treatment.
If you have a persistent “bump” you've been treating as a hemorrhoid without improvement, a skin tag is one of the most common explanations. The evaluation takes minutes; the treatment is straightforward when treatment is wanted at all.
Most patients tell us they assumed the symptom was minor — or just something they would have to live with. Neither is usually true.
Treatment Approach
Most patients with anal skin tags improve significantly with behavioral, physical, and minimally invasive treatments — long before surgery enters the conversation. Here is the full toolbox, in the order we typically work through it.
What to Expect
A comprehensive first evaluation with Dr. Johnson. Time to be listened to. In-office diagnostics when possible.
Dr. Johnson has read your intake before you walk in. The conversation starts with the impact on your life — not the textbook.
Performed with explanation at every step. Nothing happens without your full awareness and consent.
Diagnostics are performed in-office where possible to avoid extra appointments.
Every option explained. Pros, cons, and what each one would mean for your week, your work, and your life.
A Patient Story
I had been treating a 'hemorrhoid' for four years that never went away. Dr. Johnson looked once and told me it was a skin tag from a thrombosed hemorrhoid that had healed long ago. Five-minute removal. Done.
— L.O., treated for symptomatic anal skin tag
Frequently Asked
Most patients can't tell on their own — and they shouldn't have to. The distinction takes about thirty seconds of examination. A skin tag is soft, painless, and stable over time. An active hemorrhoid is more likely to be tender, can bleed with bowel movements, and changes in size depending on circumstances.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
Only if you want to. Anal skin tags are benign and do not require treatment unless they are causing symptoms — usually hygiene difficulty or local irritation. For many patients, simply confirming the diagnosis is the entire visit.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
The local anesthetic injection is the only part most patients notice — and even that is brief. The removal itself is painless. Patients typically have mild local soreness for one to two days afterward, managed with a warm sitz bath.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
Once removed, no. New skin tags can form if the underlying causes (thrombosed hemorrhoids, fissures, friction) recur, which is why the full plan looks at the broader picture, not just the tag.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
When the tag is symptomatic — interfering with hygiene, causing irritation — removal is medically indicated and typically covered. When the request is purely cosmetic, coverage may be different. We verify before scheduling so there are no surprises.
— Lisa L. Johnson, M.D., U.R.P.S.
A thorough, unhurried evaluation with Dr. Johnson. You will leave with a written plan — and clarity on what anal skin tags is doing in your body, and what to do about it.
