How To Remove Skin Tags?

If you’re asking how to get rid of skin tags (also known as acrochordons) at home, the answer is no. When eliminating skin tags at home, complications can arise, therefore it’s crucial to have your skin tags examined by a dermatologist to verify they’re not a more dangerous growth (such as those that have the potential to be cancerous).

Skin tags are benign growths that are usually painless, and it is estimated that half of all adults in the United States have at least one.

While skin tag removal is a possibility, there is typically no medical reason to do so.

Skin Tags: Why Remove Them?

Skin tags are normally not painful, however, they can be annoying at times. Skin tags may be removed for a variety of reasons, including:

They may become entangled in clothing or jewelry.

They can bleed on occasion.

Skin Tag Removal Coverage by Aesthetics Insurance

Because the operation is considered cosmetic, it is not covered by insurance (unless the problem is affecting a person’s physical or mental health). If you elect to have a professional remove your skin tags, the prices charged are normally an out-of-pocket expense.

Before removing skin tags, a healthcare expert should be consulted to check that the lesion is not a form of skin cancer.

Methods and Claims Used at Home

There are numerous claims for over-the-counter and other at-home skin tag removal techniques.

1. Using toothpaste (skin tag removal toothpaste): Medical investigations have shown no evidence that toothpaste removes skin tags safely or effectively.
2. Skin tag removal bands use a technique known as ligation. To cut off the blood flow, the band is wrapped around the stem of the skin tag. The cells in the lesion die as a result of this. The skin tag can then be twisted or peeled off with ease. A dermatologist may perform ligation, however, it is not suggested for at-home skin tag removal.
3. A skin tag patch is a form of drug that, when removed, is supposed to cause the skin tag to come off. Experts caution that this method of removal is ineffective and frequently causes irritation to the skin.
4. Tea tree oil and salicylic acid are used in this skin tag removal ointment. These substances may irritate the skin and induce contact dermatitis, a kind of dermatitis (skin irritation) (caused by direct contact with an irritant).
5. Freezing applications: These use a variety of chemicals to lower the temperature of the skin tag, causing the undesired skin tissue to be destroyed. The temperature achieved by over-the-counter freezing kits, on the other hand, is not as low as dermatologists prescribe. It may take multiple applications for at-home freezing kits to be successful. In a clinical environment, dermatologists utilize liquid nitrogen freezing procedures that achieve a significantly lower temperature for the best efficiency.
6. Apple cider vinegar is applied to the skin tag by soaking a cotton ball in the vinegar and laying it over it with a tiny bandage. The procedure is believed to take two weeks to work, however, there isn’t enough scientific data to back up these claims. 4 Apply tea tree oil to a cotton ball, place it over the skin tag, and secure it with a little bandage for a certain amount of time. Tea tree oil is rubbed to the skin tag several times a day until it falls out. Depending on the size and placement of the tag, this procedure is believed to take several weeks to work. Tea tree oil causes adverse skin reactions in certain people, according to experts.

Skin tags should not be cut or clipped at home.

Cutting skin tags with nail clippers or a sharp object is not suggested, especially with larger tags that may cause bleeding and infection.

Instruments are sterilized and skin is adequately sanitized in a clinical setting to reduce the risk of infection.

The Dangers of At-Home Removal

While you may be tempted to remove your skin tags at home, you should be aware of the following risks:5

• Infection 
• Scarring
• A lot of blood

If you’re confident you want to get rid of your skin tags, consult a dermatologist to learn about your safer options.

Dermatologically Types of Procedures for Getting Rid of Skin Tags

Skin tags are removed in a professional setting for comfort or cosmetic reasons. Skin tag removal can be done in a variety of ways, including:

1. Excision with a knife or scissors: This entails removing the skin tag using a sterile procedure. Excision is usually reserved for tiny skin tags, and the blade used by a healthcare expert is far sharper than clippers or scissors used at home. To minimize bleeding, a chemical compound may be applied after the excision.
2. Cauterization (burning): This operation uses an electrical probe or needle to burn the skin tag off at the root.
3. This approach also closes the wound after the procedure to prevent infection and bleeding.
4. Cryosurgery (freezing): Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the skin tag off. The tag will fall off in about 10 days using this procedure. The searing feeling is caused by liquid nitrogen. It’s worth noting that the chemicals used in a therapeutic context typically create a significantly lower temperature than those used in over-the-counter freezing products.

Verywell’s Message

If you have skin tags that you want to be removed, don’t try to do it yourself. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss safer techniques to remove skin tags.