How To Do Skin Tag Removal Safely

Skin tag removal is best done by a healthcare provider, who can safely remove the tags with options like cryosurgery or surgical removal. Skin tags are soft growths on the skin that are usually benign, or non-cancerous.

Skin tags form when the skin folds on itself, but they may also appear due to family history or underlying conditions like diabetes or obesity. They are most commonly found on the neck, underarms, groin, and sometimes eyelids. Here's more about how to get rid of skin tags safely.

Skin Tag Causes

Skin tags may develop for several reasons. Frequent skin irritation, a rise in hormone levels, and natural aging can all contribute to the development of the small growths.

Risk Factors

Skin tags occur most often in adults 40 years or older. People with a family history of skin tags are also more likely to develop them.

The tags can also be a symptom of an underlying condition. In particular, skin tags can be a warning sign of diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome—a collection of symptoms like high blood pressure or unhealthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Methods for Skin Tag Removal

The safest and most effective way to remove a skin tag is to have a healthcare provider—like a dermatologist—do it. A healthcare provider can choose from several methods to remove a skin tag.

Surgical Removal

Before this minor surgery, a provider will disinfect and likely numb the area. They will then cut the skin tag off at its base and apply pressure to stop any bleeding.

Cauterization

Cauterization destroys tissue by applying heat, cold, or a chemical solution. By destroying the tissue, the skin tag dissolves and disappears. 

Laser Therapy

Lasers create energy from light that's focused on the skin tag. This helps the provider perform a very precise cut for removal.

Cryosurgery

Extreme cold can be used to freeze the tissue of the skin tag. The cold causes it to die off and eventually disappear.

Electrodesiccation

With a tiny needle, a dermatologist zaps and destroys a skin tag. A scab will form in its place, which will usually heal between one and three weeks.

Can You Safely Remove Them Yourself?

The short answer is no. Before attempting to remove a skin tag yourself, it is best to talk to your healthcare provider. Never try to cut a skin tag off on your own with fingernail clippers, scissors, or another sharp tool.

While over-the-counter products are being developed and tested, there are no FDA-approved at-home remedies for removing a skin tag yourself. At-home methods do not have research support and may also be unsafe.

Risks of At-Home Skin Tag Removal

Attempting to remove a skin tag at home carries risks that could lead to several complications. The complications often outweigh the benefits and can include:

• Scarring: Attempting to remove a skin tag yourself may cause permanent scarring. This can happen through cutting, freezing, or applying a chemical or natural solution. In addition, products that claim to remove skin tags often contain high amounts of salicylic acid or other harmful substances, which could cause permanent scarring or discoloration of the surrounding skin.
• Increased infection risk: Removing something from your body that leaves an open wound can leave you vulnerable to infection. When left untreated, infections can develop into serious complications that may require antibiotics or other medical care. Healthcare providers are trained to remove skin tags in a way that avoids infection.
• Excessive bleeding: When trying to cut a skin tag yourself, you may accidentally cut too deep or too harshly, leading to excessive bleeding. Healthcare providers are trained to make incisions and remove skin tags with minimal bleeding or injury.
• Missed skin cancer signs: While most skin tags are benign, it is possible that what you think is a skin tag could be something else entirely, like skin cancer. Removing skin tags that were cancer could leave behind small cancer cells that could multiply and spread deep within your tissues, causing further issues.
  

When Should They Be Removed?

While some people may find their appearance unappealing or annoying, skin tags often do not need to be removed. However, there are still circumstances where removal is ideal.

For example, a skin tag may become caught on jewelry or clothing. In some cases, skin tags that sit in places that rub against clothing can become itchy or start to bleed from the constant friction. Over time, this could lead to pain or possibly an infection.

You may also need to have skin tags removed if they appear on your eyelid and subsequently harm your vision. Painful skin tags also require removal.

A Quick Review

While removing a skin tag is not always necessary, many people like to have them removed for cosmetic reasons or if the growth is causing discomfort. A healthcare provider can safely remove skin tags using surgery, extreme cold, or the application of cold, heat, or a chemical solution to destroy the tissue.

It is not recommended to remove skin tags at home, as at-home remedies are not FDA-approved and have little research backing them up. At-home removal also carries risks such as scarring, infection, bleeding, and an improper diagnosis.