How to Remove Skin Tags: Medical Options and Risks
The safest How to Remove Skin Tags is to have a doctor or nurse confirm that a growth is a skin tag and then remove it in an office setting with a technique such as freezing, carefully cutting it away or using an electrical current. Skin tags are common and typically harmless bumps, but removal is optional and only done if one is bothersome.
Avoid cutting, tying off or treating a skin growth at home without medical advice, since it can cause bleeding or infection. Another skin condition may appear similar to a skin tag.
What Are Skin Tags?
Small bumps called skin tags often develop in areas where the skin rubs together or against clothing, such as the neck, armpits, around the eyes or in the genital area. They are usually harmless, but a skin growth cannot always be determined to be a skin tag by its appearance. A dermatologist can evaluate a bump and recommend whether or not it should be removed.
Do Skin Tags Need to Be Removed?
Often, these growths do not need to be removed, but you may want to have one taken off if it:
- Is irritated by clothing or jewellery
- Bleeds or causes pain
- Is on the eyelid and blocks vision
- Is otherwise cosmetically unappealing to you
You may need to see a doctor to have a skin tag evaluated if it suddenly changes in appearance, causes pain, bleeding or becomes infected.
How to Remove Skin Tags: Professional Methods
Depending on a person’s individual circumstances, a healthcare professional will be able to use one of the following methods to remove a skin tag:
| Method | What the Clinician Does |
|---|---|
| Cryosurgery | Freezes the skin growth using liquid nitrogen |
| Snipping | Injects a local anaesthetic and then removes the skin tag |
| Electrocautery | Destroys the tissue with a small electrical current |
The skin tag removal procedure is usually completed in one office visit, and it can take only a few minutes to complete. After freezing or electrocautery, the treated area may blister or sore. Cutting may cause bleeding and all procedures can result in a faint scar or mark. It is important to follow post-treatment care instructions, and to contact one’s doctor if there are any concerns.
Possible Side Effects
The removal of a skin tag can result in some bleeding, infection, scarring or a faint mark. Pigmentation changes may occur, and in rare cases, these changes can be permanent. The risk of these after effects will vary depending on a person’s skin type, the method used and other factors. A doctor should be able to go over the potential complications and risks, especially if one is considering having a skin tag on a prominent part of the body removed.
Can You Remove Skin Tags at Home?
It is not advisable to try removing a skin tag at home. Using scissors, a razor, threads, over-the-counter topical medications or other products marketed as “skin tag removers” can result in an open wound, infection or excessive bleeding. Such methods can also cause scarring and the permanent loss of skin pigment. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that many of the at-home products available for purchase have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that these treatments can cause harm. A doctor can confirm that a bump is a skin tag and also determine if a different treatment is necessary.
Home Removal Techniques to Avoid
- Using a razor to cut a skin tag off
- Tying a piece of thread around the base of the growth
- Applying acidic solutions or other products marketed for the removal of skin tags at home
Why Diagnosis Matters
Warts, moles, other skin conditions, and tags can appear similar, and attempting to treat the wrong skin growth at home can result in complications. If a person is not certain what a bump on their skin is, they should make an appointment with a doctor to have it diagnosed prior to using any sort of treatment.
When to See a Dermatologist
It is a good idea to schedule an appointment if a skin growth is changing in appearance, causing pain, bleeding or becoming infected, or if it is on the eyelid and affecting one’s vision. A doctor can also confirm whether or not a skin growth is a tag and recommend a suitable course of treatment. If a person wishes to have it removed for purely cosmetic reasons, they should speak to their doctor about the potential risks involved, including the possibility of it leaving a visible scar or uneven skin tone. In some cases, including those where a skin tag is being removed for aesthetic reasons, such procedures may not always be covered by insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is the Safe and Correct Way to Remove Skin Tags?
See a doctor or nurse to have a skin growth evaluated and removed using a safe procedure such as freezing, cutting or electrocautery.
2. Can I Simply Cut Off a Skin Tag Using a Pair of Scissors?
Cutting away a skin tag at home can cause bleeding, infection, or scarring as well as interfere with normal wound healing and should not be done. A doctor will be able to remove a skin tag safely in an office setting.
3. Do Skin Tags Grow Back Once They Have Been Removed?
Once a growth has been removed, it should not return in the same place, but new ones can develop. If a person has skin tags that keep coming back or look different to the ones they have had in the past, they should bring it to the attention of their doctor.
4. Does It Hurt to Have a Skin Tag Removed?
The level of discomfort involved in skin tag removal can vary from person to person, and the method used will also make a difference. A person should ask their doctor about pain management and what they can expect in terms of discomfort and recovery.
5. When Should I Have a Skin Tag Looked at by a Doctor?
If a skin tag is changing size or shape, causing pain or bleeding, irritating clothing or vision, or if a person is unsure what it is, they should see a doctor for an evaluation.
Conclusion
When considering How to Remove Skin Tags, the safest option is to have one evaluated by a healthcare professional. As harmless bumps, these growths often do not need to be treated at all. If a person wishes to have a skin growth removed, a doctor can take it away in a matter of minutes using a number of techniques. Such procedures are not always completely painless, but a person should always avoid using at-home treatments such as cutting, tying off or applying unregulated topical solutions since these can cause harm.
