How To Treat Skin Tags

Skin tags are fleshy lesions that pop up on certain parts of the body like the neck, armpits, eyelids, under the breasts, and around the genitals. They’re composed of normal tissue and fat and usually hang from a stalk. This type of growth is quite common, especially among middle-aged and elderly individuals. They often form in areas of friction where the skin folds. Skin tags may develop because of conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, or diabetes. There is also a genetic disposition, so individuals will more than likely develop them at some point if their parents have them. Skin tags won't cause any health issues or turn cancerous, so they don’t have to be removed unless the patient chooses to for cosmetic reasons. Get to know how they can be removed now.

Freezing It Off

Cryotherapy is a popular method of getting rid of skin tags. In this process, a medical professional removes the tissue by applying liquid nitrogen. Freezing it off is possible because of the extreme cold. This can be done with a spray canister, tweezers, a cotton swab, or through an injection. The liquid nitrogen can cause a burning or stinging sensation when applied to the skin, and the area may become red and swollen. A blister usually forms at the site of application within three to six hours. This area will eventually scab over as it heals and falls off within a few days.

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Burning It Off

A skin tag can be gently burned off with a treatment called electrocauterization. This technique is usually used for serious skin conditions that need immediate removal, like cancer. In cancer cases or others where the skin growths are severe or contain unhealthy cells, the procedure is known as cauterization. Electrocauterization is a milder form of cauterization, where a handheld device is used to heat the unwanted tissues. The device uses electricity to generate the level of heat necessary to remove the skin tag. Burning it off only takes one or two treatments, and no recovery time is necessary. There's also a surgical method available to remove skin tags by burning them off with heat.

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Surgery

Surgery for skin tag removal can be done with heat or by cutting away the growth. Excision is a very effective and quick procedure and can be done with skin tags that have a very narrow base. A scalpel or other type of medical cutting instrument is used to remove the skin tag. The area is numbed before the growth is cut off, and no recovery time is necessary. This method is not recommended for medium or large skin tags because it can cause bleeding. Electrosurgery uses electricity to generate heat for the removal of the skin tag at its base. This type of surgery makes precise cuts and minimizes blood loss.

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At-Home Remedies

At-home remedies to remove skin tags include ligation, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar. Ligation is a process of cutting off the blood supply to the tissue so the cells will die. The targeted tissue will eventually fall off. Patients can tie a piece of string or dental floss around the base of the tag to cut off its blood supply, though they may have to tighten the band periodically. It usually falls off within ten days. Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are both used in the same manner to remove skin tags. Just soak a cotton ball in either liquid and apply to the skin tag with a bandage over it to keep it in place. Do this two to three times daily for about ten minutes each time until the skin tag falls off, which may take days or weeks.

Some individuals may experience skin irritation or other adverse reactions, in which case treatment should be discontinued. Don’t use either substance for skin tags around the eyes. Seek medical advice for very long or large skin tags or those located around the eyes or genitals. Tags that cause pain, itching, or bleeding should be evaluated by a medical professional.

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Skin Tag Removal Kits

Skin tag removal kits are also used to remove unwanted skin tags. These kits are made for do-it-yourself applications of products sometimes used by medical professionals. There’s a freezing kit with liquid nitrogen as the active ingredient, and these kits are available for purchase without a prescription. This spray should only be applied to the growth and kept away from surrounding skin. Petroleum jelly can be applied around the tag to protect the skin. Repeated applications may be necessary, and it may take up to ten days for the growth to fall off. Creams are also available in over the counter skin tag removal kits, and they usually come with an applicator. The procedure is fairly simple and usually requires only one application. Note, patients may have to file down a portion of the growth before application, as this ensures maximum absorption of the cream. The cream may sting a bit upon application, but it's temporary and mild. It can take up to three weeks for skin tags to fall off.