Skin tag removal is not necessary unless you have one that rubs on clothing or jewelry, causes discomfort, or you wish to remove it for cosmetic reasons. Also called acrochordons, skin tags are harmless skin growths that won’t become cancerous.
While there are natural remedies to treat skin tags, from toothpaste to a freezing kit, it may be best to have a dermatologist (skin health specialist) remove a tag. They can make sure the growth really is a skin tag, as opposed to skin cancer or another type of lesion.
This article discusses removing skin tags and whether it’s safe to remove or cut off skin tags at home, with a few home remedies you can try. It also presents information about professional skin tag removal.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VWH-MichelaButtignol-HowToRemoveSkinTags-4000x2700-4dbb0296c8bd42aeb20772330b0068a5.png "Can I Remove Skin Tags at Home? (1)")
Skin Tag Removal: Drugstore Products and Remedies
There are many different DIY methods for skin tag removal, including home remedies like applying apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support these home remedies for skin tag treatment.
Some of these can be tried without concern for side effects if you’re interested in seeing if they work for you. Others pose risks and should be avoided.
Regardless, the biggest concern with skin tag home remedies is that using one means you won’t be getting a proper evaluation by a professional. You may be self-treating a skin tag that isn’t actually a skin tag.
Bothersome skin tags in particularly delicate areas like near the eyes, genitalia, or anus should always be removed by a healthcare practitioner. Also be sure you see a practitioner if the growth is not one solid color or if it bleeds, is painful, or grows quickly. These are not characteristics of a skin tag.
How Can You Tell if a Skin Growth Is Cancer?
Toothpaste
Some people claim that using toothpaste can remove a skin tag. These claims are anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence that supports this method.
Skin Tag Removal Bands
Skin tag removal bands are also called ligation. With this method, a band is wrapped around the stem of the skin tag and cuts off the blood supply.
When it stops getting blood, the skin tag’s cells will die. Once this happens, the skin tag can be twisted or pulled off.
Ligation should be performed by a dermatologist. Using skin tag removal bands yourself carries a risk of infection, bleeding, scarring, and only partial removal of the skin tag, which can result in it growing back.
Some healthcare providers consider dental floss an option. The dental floss (or professionally, a surgical suture) cuts off the blood supply to the skin tag and causes the tissue to die. This is technically a ligation method, like skin tag removal bands.
Skin Tag Patch
You may see over-the-counter (OTC) skin tag patches at your local pharmacy. Most look like round stickers.
You apply a patch over your skin tag. After leaving it on for a period of time, you remove it and the skin tag is supposed to come off as well.
However, there is not enough evidence that this method works. It can also cause skin irritation.
Do Skin Tag Patches Work?
Skin Tag Removal Cream
Creams made with tea tree oil and salicylic acid are said to help remove skin tags, but these ingredients can actually be irritating to the skin.
In fact, skin tag cream can cause a type of skin inflammation called contact dermatitis.
Freezing
OTC freezing kits contain chemicals that lower the temperature of the skin tag. The low temperature destroys the unwanted skin tissue, making it another way to get rid of skin tags.
However, OTC kits do not lower the temperature enough to work immediately. It may take several applications before you see any results.
Dermatologists can use liquid nitrogen to get a lower skin temperature, making their freezing method a more effective, quick removal for skin tags than OTC options.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Some people claim you can remove a skin tag by soaking a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and applying it to your skin with a small bandage.
It’s said that the apple cider vinegar method can take two weeks to work, but there isn’t much evidence that it’s an effective way to remove a skin tag.
Tea Tree Oil
Similar to the apple cider vinegar method, some people claim that applying a cotton ball soaked in tea tree oil to a skin tag can remove it.
Again, people claim this method takes several weeks to work but the evidence is limited. Plus, some people can have allergic skin reactions to tea tree oil.
Put Down the Clippers
Never use nail clippers or a sharp instrument to cut skin tags off. A healthcare provider is trained to minimize scarring and control excessive bleeding, should it occur. They also disinfect the skin and sterilize their instruments to prevent infection.
What to Do If You Have a Skin Tag on Your Eyelid
Professional Skin Tag Removal
A healthcare provider has several options for removing skin tags, including:
- Excision (surgical removal)
- Cauterization (burning it off)
- Cryosurgery (freezing it off)
Excision
With excision, a provider uses a sterile technique to cut the skin tag off. They use a scalpel (surgical blade) or surgical scissors to do this. These are much sharper than clippers or scissors you would use at home.
Generally, only smaller skin tags are removed this way.
A chemical compound can be applied after removal to reduce bleeding.
Cauterization
Cauterization is when a skin tag is burned off at its base. A provider can do this with an electrical probe or needle that produces an electric current.
This method of skin tag removal also seals the wound to prevent infection and bleeding.
Cryosurgery
In cryosurgery, the skin tag is frozen with liquid nitrogen. It may burn when the provider applies it to your skin.
After cryosurgery, it takes approximately 10 days for the tag to fall off.
Will My Health Insurance Cover Skin Tag Removal?
Skin tag removal might cost hundreds of dollars, depending on where you are, the type of facility where the procedure is done, and how many skin tags are removed. Health insurance plans usually will not cover skin tag removal unless it affects your physical or mental health. A skin tag removal procedure is otherwise cosmetic, which means you will pay for it out of pocket.
Skin Tag Removal Aftercare
How you need to care for your skin after a skin tag is removed depends on the method used to remove it. You will likely be told to keep the area clean and dry. Wash it gently once or twice a day and pat dry.
If the skin tag was excised, you may be told to keep a bandage on it for several days. In some cases, you may be told to leave the wound uncovered instead. Your provider may also suggest applying an antibiotic ointment.
Larger wounds may need stitches. Your provider will tell you how to care for your stitches and wound. You’ll usually need the keep the area clean and covered for the first 24 to 48 hours after the removal procedure.
If your skin tag was removed by cryosurgery or cauterization and the area rubs against your clothing, you may need to bandage it to prevent irritation.
After skin tag removal, avoid products that can slow healing such as:
- Skin cleansers
- Alcohol
- Peroxide
- Iodine
- Antibacterial soap
Skin Tags: What Are They and Can You Prevent Them?
Skin Tag Causes
Skin tags more often occur in places on the body where the skin is irritated over a long period of time. These areas include:
- Breasts (the under side)
- Eyelids
- Groin
- Neck creases
- Armpits (axilla)
Being overweight or pregnant can contribute to the likelihood of skin tag development because of skin rubbing against skin. Other conditions that may increase the chances of having skin tags are:
- Family history of skin tags (genetics)
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
Research suggests that the human papillomavirus (HPV) might play a role in skin tag growth in some people, but the evidence is quite limited.
Will Skin Tags Grow Back?
Skin tags that are removed in full will not grow back. However, it’s possible to get a new skin tag near where you had one before.
Summary
Skin tags are usually harmless and do not need to be removed. However, if they are bothering you, you might want to remove them.
Removing a skin tag on your own at home has risks, including bleeding, infection, and scarring. Having a professional do it can minimize the risks and ensure that the growth is not a more serious problem such as skin cancer.
A dermatologist can safely remove a skin tag with a scalpel or scissors, cauterization, or cryosurgery.
