Skin tags can be annoying, especially when they snag on clothing or jewelry. However, most of these growths are harmless. It’s best to consult a dermatologist, a specialist in skin health.

There are several ways a doctor can remove skin tags: snipping them, freezing them (cryosurgery, using super-cold liquid nitrogen), or burning them off (using an electrode). There are also home removal techniques like soaking a tag in tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar. Contact Copper Mountain Surgical now!

Skin tags are common, benign growths that appear as small flaps of tissue connected by a thin stalk. They typically occur in areas where the skin rubs together, such as the neck, armpits, breasts and groin area. Although they are harmless, they can be a nuisance when caught on clothing or jewelry or become irritated by rubbing against other parts of the body. Luckily, there are several ways to remove skin tags safely.

If you’re worried about skin tags’ appearance, a few at-home treatments can help them dry up and fall off. However, many at-home treatments are not safe to use because they can cause pain, irritation, and scarring. These products can also lead to infections. You should always consult a health professional before using any over-the-counter (OTC) products to treat your skin.

There are many OTC products available for removing skin tags, such as removal bands and patches. These products usually contain medicines that are designed to kill the cells in skin tags so they shrink and fall off. These medications are available in ointments, gels and liquids. They may be sold as mole and skin tag removers, wart removers or as part of a kit that includes other skincare products. Some of these products have been reported to the FDA and can be dangerous if not used correctly.

Many OTC products for removing skin tags are also used to remove other lesions, such as warts and seborrheic keratoses. These products are sold as ointments, creams and gels and may contain chemicals such as salicylic acid and Sanguinaria canadensis that can be harmful when used incorrectly. Some of these products may also cause skin injury, infection requiring antibiotics and scarring.

It’s best to visit a healthcare provider for professional removal of a skin tag. These experts have access to sterile instruments and follow strict safety protocols, which minimize the risk of infection and scarring. They will also advise on proper care of the wound to promote healing. This may include washing the wound gently, and patting it dry. It’s also important to watch for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling and drainage.

Home remedies

There are a number of DIY methods people use to remove skin tags, including apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and wart removal products. However, these treatments can cause irritation and damage the surrounding skin. Some also have little evidence to support them. And, trying to cut a skin tag off yourself can lead to bleeding and scarring.

One of the most popular home remedies for skin tags is to apply a solution made from water, vinegar, or iodine. Some recipes suggest that these mixtures will kill the cell structures of a skin tag, causing it to shrink and fall off. These solutions are available at pharmacies and some grocery stores. However, the American Academy of Dermatology warns against using home treatments to remove skin tags. They can cause infection, scarring, and other issues that require a doctor’s attention.

Tea tree oil is an antiviral and antifungal agent that may help to remove skin tags. Add a few drops to a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and gently rub the solution over your skin tag. You can do this three times a day for about 10 minutes each time. This treatment isn’t well-studied, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it may be effective.

Some people also believe that rubbing vitamin E on their skin tags will reduce or eliminate them. This vitamin is thought to soften aging skin and may help remove a skin tag’s thin, fibrous stalk that attaches it to the rest of the body.

Another method involves coating a skin tag in nail polish and waiting for it to dry. This supposedly causes the tag to break off when you rip it off. This is a risky technique that can result in bleeding and infection.

A few more DIY treatments include soaking the tag in apple cider vinegar or covering it with liquid iodine. There’s no evidence that these will work to get rid of a skin tag, but they’re low-cost and may be worth a try. If these don’t produce the desired results, your healthcare provider can perform surgery to remove your skin tag. This option is best if your skin tag is in a sensitive location, such as your eyes or genital area.

Laser treatment

While home remedies for skin tags can be effective, it is better to opt for laser treatment. This procedure is precise and non-invasive. It uses an FDA-approved laser device that will target the growths’ roots.

During the consultation, the practitioner will assess the growths’ size and location to determine whether they are suitable for laser removal. They will also ask about your medical history and inquire about any existing health conditions or medications you might be taking. This is the best time to discuss any concerns and set realistic expectations about the treatment.

The treatment area will be thoroughly cleaned and a numbing cream may be applied to prevent discomfort. The practitioner will then set the laser settings based on the number and size of the skin tags. They will administer test pulses to ensure that the device is working correctly. After the test pulses, they will begin the actual removal process.

After the laser removal of skin tags, your body will need a few weeks to heal. During this time, you should avoid scratching or picking at the area. The skin will scab over, and this scab should eventually shed off in a few days.

In the event of any bleeding, bruising, swelling, or weeping, you should contact your practitioner immediately for advice. It is also important to follow all post-treatment instructions to reduce the risk of complications.

The average appointment time for a laser removal of skin tags is 15-60 minutes, depending on the number and size of the growths being removed. Once the removal is complete, a healing ointment will be applied to the treated area.

Despite popular belief, skin tags do not grow back after they have been removed via laser treatment. The reason for this is that the growths are a result of an attenuated epidermis and flattened basal cell layer. They are also connected to the surrounding skin by a narrow and thin pedicle. They can sometimes be the last remnants of a pre-existing melanocytic nevus or neurofibroma. In most cases, removing them with laser treatment will not affect your skin’s texture or colour.

Surgery

A skin tag is a small flap of flesh-colored tissue that hangs off your skin on a thin stalk. They are benign and painless, but you may want to have them removed if they irritate or get caught on something such as jewelry or seatbelts. Some people are more prone to getting them, especially those who are overweight, pregnant or have diabetes. You can find them all over the body, but they’re most often found in places where your skin rubs together, like your eyelids, neck or armpits and under your breasts.

You can get your skin tags removed at home or in a doctor’s office, depending on where they’re located and your preference. Over-the-counter treatments can cause bleeding and scarring, so it’s best to leave any kind of removal at the hands of a health care professional.

Your doctor will examine your skin tags and ask a few questions to determine their diagnosis. You might not need any medical tests or scans, but if the doctor suspects you have a cancerous growth, they will likely take a sample to be tested in a laboratory.

Surgical options for skin tag removal include freezing (cryotherapy) or burning them off at the base with a pen-like device that delivers an electric current. These are usually done in a doctor’s office and can be completed without anesthesia. Small skin tags and those that bleed easily may be treated with a procedure called snip excision or shave excision, which involves cutting off the lesion with a scalpel or scissors, which are much sharper than the type of hair clippers or scissors you might have at home. After the procedure, the area will need to be washed with antiseptic and covered with a bandage.

Because removing skin tags is considered cosmetic, it’s not usually covered by insurance. Your healthcare provider can recommend a surgeon in your area and provide specific post-surgical care recommendations. For example, applying an antibiotic ointment to the skin tag may reduce the risk of infection. You should also seek emergency care if your skin tag becomes painful or starts bleeding.