Some people may have a genetic predisposition to develop skin tags. There is no medical reason skin tags need to be removed, but if you find them bothersome or unsightly, a dermatologist can get the job done. Dermatologists typically use one of three methods to remove skin tags, depending on the size and location of the growth.
Small skin tags can often be removed without the use of an anesthetic. You might experience some brief discomfort. If you have a larger skin tag or multiple skin tags, the doctor may apply a topical anesthetic before proceeding. Small skin tags that have a stalk or stem, known as pedunculated skin tags, may be removed using a scalpel or sterile surgical blade scissors.
Note: These scissors are much sharper than the scissors or nail clippers you have at home — and again, they are sterile, which is very important. The provider might apply a chemical compound prior to removal to decrease bleeding. Cryotherapy involves freezing the skin tag with liquid nitrogen, which causes it to fall off, usually within about 10 days.
The liquid nitrogen may cause a brief burning sensation. With cauterization, aka electrocautery, the skin tag is burned off at the base using an electric current. You'll usually need to pay to have this done privately. This is because skin tag removal is regarded as cosmetic surgery , which is rarely available through the NHS.
Cosmetic surgery is usually only available on the NHS if the problem is affecting your physical or mental health. Sometimes, skin tags fall off on their own if the tissue has twisted and died from a lack of blood supply. Do not try to remove a skin tag without speaking to a GP first.
If you have a skin tag that's causing problems, consider making an appointment with a privately practising GP to have it removed. Skin tags can easily be burnt or frozen off in a similar way to how warts are removed. They can also be surgically removed, sometimes using local anaesthetic.
Freezing or burning skin tags can cause irritation and temporary skin discoloration, and the skin tag may not fall off and further treatment may be needed. Surgical removal has the advantage of removing the skin tag completely, but there is a risk of minor bleeding.
If your skin tag is small with a narrow base, your GP may suggest that you try to remove it yourself. For example, they may suggest tying off the base of the skin tag with dental floss or cotton to cut off its blood supply and make it drop off ligation. According to board-certified dermatologist Laurel Naversen Geraghty , skin-tag removal is something patients ask her constantly. How can I get rid of them? The medical term for a skin tag is acrochordon or fibroepithelial polyp.
Bichchau Michelle Nguyen , a board-certified dermatologist and the director of Mohs micrographic surgery at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, tells Allure that what we call skin tags are really just benign skin lesions composed of normal skin tissue. While not dangerous at all, they are often cosmetically bothersome especially if located in an obvious location like the face or neck," says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein , who often electively removes skin tags from her patients for that very reason.
New York City board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner adds that skin tags, comprised of extra skin and fat, have a genetic component to them, and people whose parents had them are more likely to get them themselves. Nguyen also notes that obesity and pregnancy might contribute to the development of skin tags, as well. They don't need to be removed, Marchbein explains, but since they can grow, they can actually twist on themselves at the base of the stalk where they're attached to the skin, causing redness and pain.
Some people's skin tags even bleed," Geraghty adds, explaining that they often form in areas of friction like the neck, under the arms, thighs, and even around the eyelids.
Skin tags are more likely to happen to adults than children; men and women are affected by skin tags at equal rates. That being said, there are a few factors that can be linked to the development of skin tags. Obesity and associated skin friction is a major player in developing skin tags. Skin is more likely to rub against itself, and that friction stimulates skin-tag growth.
The body is in a general state of growth during pregnancy , and all kinds of skin lesions grow during this time. That state of growth, coupled with a heavier-than-usual body weight, possible gestational diabetes which may be correlated to skin tags , and increased friction in areas of rubbing can all lead to skin tags during pregnancy.
Moles on the abdomen can change, skin tags can form or become enlarged. It's just part of the normal, physiologic changes that women go through in pregnancy," says Geraghty.
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