What are skin tags? If you’ve recently discovered a soft, “hanging” growth on your skin, chances are it’s a skin tag. While they can look alarming, skin tags are benign skin growths and pose no health risk. In this blog, we’ll explain what causes them, where they tend to appear, and how to remove skin tags safely.
What are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are small, benign skin growths. They are often the same color as your skin, but are sometimes pink or darker than your skin tone and can turn red when irritated. These small skin growths look like a cluster of skin tissue extending out from your skin and can sometimes resemble a raised mole. Most skin tags are less than 5 mm, but some can grow to a few centimeters.
These small growths on your skin are common. Half of the adults in the United States will develop at least one skin tag in their lifetime. They are not a cause for concern, as they have no effect on your health whatsoever. However, they can cause discomfort or bleeding if they rub against clothes or jewelry.
Now that you know what skin tags are, let’s take a look at what causes skin tags and how to get rid of skin tags safely.
Where do Skin Tags Come From?
Skin tags form when your skin rubs against itself and causes your body to produce extra cells in the skin’s top layers. The most common areas for these small skin growths to develop are the armpits, eyelids, groin, neck, under the breasts, and around the genitals.
Anyone can develop skin tags, but you’re more likely to develop these skin growths:
- As you age
- If you have a family history of skin tags
- If you experience high levels of growth factors
- If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or skin disorders
Skin tags can sometimes be mistaken for other types of flesh-colored bumps on your skin, including moles, warts, and early signs of skin cancer. While skin tags are benign skin growths, it’s important to have a dermatologist examine any new or changing skin growths. An accurate diagnosis rules out more serious diagnoses and determines the most appropriate treatment.
How to Remove Skin Tags
Skin tags are one type of small skin growths that don’t require treatment. However, many people prefer to have skin tags removed as they can catch on clothing or jewelry or they simply don’t like the way skin tags look.
Fortunately, there are many ways to remove skin tags, including at-home treatments. While you can remove a skin tag at home, we recommend visiting a dermatologist before removing a skin tag on your own or to have the skin tag professionally removed. Having a dermatologist remove your skin tag decreases the risk of infection and is often less painful. A dermatologist will also be able to verify that the skin growth is a skin tag to ensure the proper removal technique is used.
Do not try to remove a skin tag at home if it is:
- Located near your eyes
- Located near your genitals
- Very large or long
- Bleeding, painful, or itchy
For the safest results and peace of mind, professional removal of skin tags is always your best option, especially when they’re located in delicate or hard-to-reach areas. But if you’re considering removing a skin tag at home, it’s essential to understand the potential risks and proper techniques.
Can You Remove Skin Tags at Home?
There are many methods some use to remove skin tags at home. However, most of these methods are not approved by the FDA. We do not recommend at-home skin tag removal, but here are some of the most common methods used to get rid of skin tags.
Skin Tag Removal Bands
The removal band cuts off the blood supply to the skin tag, which causes the cells to die and the skin tag to fall off. This process is also known as ligation.
Skin Tag Removal Creams
Removal creams can be an effective way to remove skin tags, but it might take up to three weeks for the skin tag to fall off. It’s important to review the ingredients in skin tag removal creams as some ingredients may lead to skin irritation.
Freezing Kits for Skin Tags
Cryotherapy, when a dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen to remove a skin tag, is an effective way to remove skin tags. There are over-the-counter freezing kits available, but they can be tricky to use as you need to avoid letting the spray touch the surrounding skin or it can become irritated.
Cutting or Clipping Skin Tags
Many people consider using a sharp blade or nail clippers to get rid of skin tags at home. This should only be done with the approval of a dermatologist as this can easily lead to infection. When cutting or clipping skin tags at home, the skin and the tool must be cleansed properly to help prevent infection.
Removing skin tags at home using a blade or nail clippers is painful, and people who use blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder should not try this method.
Skin tag removal should be approached with extreme caution, particularly when dealing with sensitive areas or large skin growths. Instead of risking complications with at-home methods, or mistaking another type of growth for a skin tag, it is best to trust a trained professional to examine and remove your skin tags safely and efficiently in a sterile location. Up next, we’ll learn about the methods for skin tag removal recommended by dermatologists.
Skin Tag Removal in Pittsburgh, PA
There are many benefits to scheduling an appointment with a dermatology provider to remove your skin tags.
Your dermatologist will evaluate your skin growths to determine if they are skin tags so they can recommend the appropriate technique to remove the skin growth. Removing skin tags at home is not recommended and the FDA has not approved the majority of the at-home treatments mentioned above. If a skin tag is not totally removed, it is likely to grow back. Professional removal of a skin tag decreases the chances of your skin tag growing back, infection, scarring, and more.
At Vujevich Dermatology Associates, our board-certified dermatologists are committed to providing safe, effective solutions for skin tag removal. By choosing professional care, you not only minimize risks but also ensure that your skin tags are accurately diagnosed and fully removed. Let’s explore the best methods our dermatologists use to remove skin tags and help you achieve smoother skin.
The Best Methods for Skin Tag Removal
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery removes a skin tag by using liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin tag. This destroys the cells in the skin tag, causing them to scab and eventually fall off.
Electrodesiccation
During electrodesiccation, your dermatologist will use a tiny needle to heat the skin tag with an electric current. This destroys the cells in the skin tag, which causes the skin tag to scab and fall off within two to three weeks.
Snip Method
If you choose the snip method to remove your skin tag, your dermatologist will numb the area surrounding the skin tag and then will use sterile surgical scissors or a blade to remove the skin tag. A solution is applied to the wound once the skin tag has been removed to control your bleeding.
Choosing how to remove a skin tag depends on the size, location, and number of skin tags present. Fortunately, cryosurgery, desiccation, and snipping are quick, low-risk procedures when performed in-office by a dermatologist.
In this blog, we’ve answered the question, “What are skin tags?” and discussed the different methods used to get rid of skin tags. While at-home removal options exist, nothing compares to the safety and precision of having your skin tag evaluated and removed by a board-certified dermatologist.
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, the team at Vujevich Dermatology Associates is here to help you take the next step with expert medical dermatology care and personalized skin tag removal solutions. Call us at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to book your appointment in the greater Pittsburgh, PA area. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.