Skin Tag Removal Phoenix is usually harmless, but it can irritate the area where it occurs. Fortunately, there are several ways to safely remove them.
Home remedies involve applying liquid or ointment to the growth, which dries it out and causes it to fall off. It may take a few days to see results.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Treatments
Skin tags are harmless and rarely cause discomfort, but they can be a nuisance to some people. There are many ways to remove them, and some home remedies and OTC products claim to be effective, but it’s always best to see a medical professional if you have any concerns about your health.
Over-the-counter treatments include creams and freezing kits that you can use at home. They typically work by choking off blood flow to the tag, which makes it die and eventually fall off. Some of these creams contain ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil that may be irritating to the skin, so it’s best to avoid them if you have sensitive skin.
Apple cider vinegar is another at-home remedy that is believed to help reduce the appearance of skin tags by drying them out. However, this can also irritate the skin and lead to skin ulcers if used in excess. Some people believe that massaging vitamin E oil on a skin tag will cause it to disappear in days, but this is also unproven.
Medical procedures that can be used to get rid of skin tags include surgical excision, ligation, and burning. Surgical excision involves cutting off the skin tag with a scalpel or surgical scissors, which provides precise control and minimizes the risk of scarring or infection. Ligation is another surgical method that works by cutting off the blood supply to the skin tag, which causes it to die and fall off. Burning also cuts off the blood supply to a skin tag, but it can be painful and may leave a scar.
If you notice that your skin tags have changed shape or color, bleed or become swollen or inflamed, it’s always best to visit a medical professional to ensure that the growth is not something more serious, such as a cancerous mole. Always have any suspicious growths evaluated by a dermatologist, a health care specialist who specializes in the diagnosis of diseases of the skin and hair.
In some cases, a medical professional will need to examine a skin tag under a microscope to make sure it is not a precancerous or malignant lesion, such as a wart or skin cancer. Irregular skin growths should never be cut or clipped off at home, as this can lead to bleeding and other complications.
Home Remedies
Some home treatments for skin tags claim to remove them, but the evidence supporting their effectiveness is often anecdotal and unproven. Taking matters into your own hands can also be a risky proposition, especially if you’re dealing with growths around the eyes or genital area.
Over-the-counter (OTC) products that are supposed to remove a skin tag include cryotherapy kits that freeze the tag away, ligation bands that cut off the blood supply, and patches placed on the skin to release medicine meant to destroy the tag. Those are typically available in gels, lotions, or liquids that have to be applied regularly to work. Even with regular applications, they’re not always effective and they can irritate the surrounding skin.
Another common home remedy involves soaking a cotton ball in some kind of natural substance like apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil and applying it to the skin tag, sometimes several times per day until it disappears. This isn’t a clinically proven treatment, and the substances may cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
Some people claim that cutting off a skin tag by using nail clippers or scissors is effective. This isn’t a good idea, though, as it can cause bleeding and it’s easy to accidentally nick or cut off a blood vessel. Trying to remove large or multiple skin tags can be particularly painful and should only be done with the approval of a healthcare professional.
It’s also not a good idea to try to remove skin tags by burning them with a flame, such as with a hairdryer or lighter. This can lead to scarring and infection.
Medical Procedures
Despite their harmlessness, skin tags can be irritating. If they develop in areas where the skin rubs against itself, like the neck or underarms, they can cause friction and irritate the area. They also can get caught on clothing or seatbelts and may bleed from constant rubbing. Some people, particularly those who have diabetes or are overweight, can experience an increased number of skin tags.
A few medical procedures can safely remove skin tags. Doctors, such as dermatologists, have the training and expertise to diagnose skin tags and distinguish them from other conditions that resemble them, including warts and moles that could be cancerous.
In-office medical treatments for removing skin tags include cryosurgery, in which a physician sprays a small amount of liquid nitrogen on the growth and freezes it, and electrocautery, in which the tag is zapped with an electric needle or probe. Doctors may also slice or snip off the growth if it is large and causing a nuisance, but they should first numb the area before using a scalpel or sharp blade. They also should never cut or clip off a skin tag near the eye or genitals, which can lead to bleeding.
Some home removal options are also available, including ligation bands that can be placed around a skin tag and cut off its supply of blood, which eventually causes it to fall off. Similarly, home “freezing” kits use a chemical, such as nitrous oxide or a combination of dimethyl ether, propane, and isobutane, to destroy the growth. However, these products can irritate the skin and should not be used on the eye or genital areas.
In some cases, a medical professional can help prevent the formation of new skin tags by treating any underlying conditions that may contribute to their development, such as diabetes or obesity. A medical professional can also examine any atypical or suspicious-looking growths and perform a biopsy as necessary. Because melanoma and other types of cancer often resemble skin tags, it is important to have any new or changing lesions evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Results
Aside from removing skin tags, your doctor can help you find ways to prevent future growth. The most important thing to remember is that it’s always a good idea to see your healthcare provider when you notice a new spot or growth in your body. This way, they can make sure the growth is a skin tag, and not something more serious like a mole or a type of cancerous lesion called a melanoma.
It’s best to leave skin tag removal treatments to your dermatologist, especially if you have a large number of those in sensitive areas of your body like around the eyes or genitals. A trained professional can quickly remove them in their office using several methods that are safe and effective.
You should also consult your doctor before trying any home remedies for skin tags, such as tying them off with dental floss or string. While this may seem tempting, it can cause bleeding and infection. This can be especially dangerous if you have a condition that requires close monitoring, such as diabetes or blood disorders.
There are many ways to remove skin tags, but the most common is shaving them off with a blade or scalpel. You can also try snipping them off with sterilized surgical scissors, or cryotherapy, in which the skin tag is frozen off. Another method is electrodessication, in which smaller tags are zapped with an electric needle that turns them into a scab and then falls off.
Maintaining a healthy weight and wearing clothing that reduces friction can help reduce the number of skin tags you develop, but it’s difficult to prevent them completely. You can also avoid squeezing or cutting off your tags, as this can lead to bleeding and can damage the surrounding skin. Infection can also occur, but proper wound care and following post-procedure instructions can minimize the risk. Most methods of removing skin tags can result in some scarring, although the degree of scarring varies. Some people will also experience redness, swelling, or sensitivity to light after a removal procedure.