How to remove skin tags

How to identify and remove a skin tag

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Skin tags, also known as acrochordons, are common, benign skin growths. As many as half of all adults have had one at some point in their life.

You might not even notice you have a skin tag until you feel it with your fingers: a tiny flap of skin that often appears in the skin folds, such as the armpit, groin, neck or on the eyelids. They are typically asymptomatic but can become painful if inflamed or irritated.

Here’s how to identify a skin tag and how to get rid of it.

What causes skin tags?

What causes skin tags is unknown. However, experts believe that friction between folds of skin plays a role in their development.

This may help explain why skin tags are more common in people who are overweight or obese. The tendency for skin tags also seems to increase with age.

Men and women are equally likely to develop skin tags.

How do I identify a skin tag?

A skin tag is usually the same color as the rest of your skin. It typically looks like a loose piece of skin attached by a stalk to your body, and you can often wiggle it back and forth with your fingers.

Skin tags can vary in size, and they often come in bunches. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone come in with just one skin tag,» says Joyce Davis, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in New York, New York. «They also have a smooth surface, unlike a wart, which is typically rough or corrugated,»

Warts are also benign skin growths. But we know they’re caused by a viral infection to the top layer of your skin, and unlike skin tags, they’re contagious.

Skin tags are also different from another type of skin growth: a mole, or nevus. Unlike skin tags, some moles can lead to skin cancer. Moles can vary in size, and they can be any shade of pink or brown, whereas skin tags are typically the same color as your natural skin. Some moles are raised, while others are flat.

Here’s how to tell the difference between a mole, a wart, and a skin tag:

How do I get rid of a skin tag?

To get rid of a skin tag, seek out a dermatologist.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to remove skin tags at all — they’re harmless. Moreover, experts don’t recommend trying to remove a skin tag at home for multiple reasons.

For one, «that skin tag has a blood vessel within it, so if you remove it, it can bleed,» Davis says. And the bigger or wider the stalk of the skin tag, the more likely it is to bleed a lot.

«You may be quite surprised by the amount of bleeding that comes from something quite small,» says dermatologist Jason A. Clark, MD, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Emory Department of Dermatology, who also doesn’t advise self-removal.

Plus, you might wind up giving yourself a scar or an infection if the tool you use to remove it are not sterilized, Clark says.

To avoid scarring and infection, visit a doctor who will have several removal options for you:

Davis favors snipping or burning to freezing. She typically injects the skin under the tag with a local anesthetic, snips off the tag with sterilized scissors, and then cauterizes the base to stop the bleeding. It’s a very quick process, she says. If the tag is extremely small, she might skip the numbing agent, or she’ll use a little anesthetic cream on the site.

«If it’s very delicate, like if it’s on the eyelid, I numb it with an anesthetic and then I cauterize it,» she says. «That way, you get just a tiny scab.»

Another reason to see a dermatologist is that you can get a correct diagnosis. That skin tag might just be a skin tag, but it could be something else more dangerous, says Clark.

One more thing to note: While skin tags don’t grow back after they’re removed, that won’t stop you from growing new ones. «I can remove what you have,» she says Davis. «But I can’t prevent you from growing new ones.»

How to Remove Skin Tags

Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, is a freelance health writer with over a decade of experience working as a registered nurse in a variety of clinical settings.

William Truswell, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is president of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Skin tags are small growths on the surface of the skin that tend to develop with age. Also known as acrochordons, they usually are benign. They result from the rubbing of skin against skin and so most often crop up in skin folds—under the arms, on the neck, in the groin or anus, and under the breasts. People with diabetes and obesity may be more at risk of developing skin tags over time.

Most skin tags are harmless, but can be bothersome. Some get caught on clothing or jewelry and cause irritation. Others are unsightly.   If you have a skin tag you’d like to remove, there are ways to do it safely.

Before You Remove Skin Tags

Before you attempt to remove a skin tag, make sure that what you’re dealing with is, indeed, a skin tag. Skin tags should not hurt or change dramatically in shape, size, or color. If what you’re dealing with is painful or changes in appearance, see your healthcare provider. They can diagnose a skin tag simply by looking at it; the exam is quick and painless.

Make Sure It’s Not Cancer

The American Academy of Dermatology Association strongly recommends seeing a healthcare provider before removing a skin tag on the chance that it may be something more serious—in particular skin cancer. If you were to remove a cancerous skin tag, in doing so you could leave behind cancer cells that could then multiply and spread.

If your healthcare provider is concerned what appears to be a skin tag is cancer, they can order a skin biopsy.

DIY Methods

A quick Internet search will yield a variety of do-it-yourself suggestions for removing skin tags, including:

Talk with your healthcare provider before trying any of them even if you’ve already determined what you have is a skin tag. They can guide you toward the best DIY method for you, especially if your skin tag is in a sensitive area like the eyelid or groin.

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Verywell / Laura Porter

Medical Procedures

A healthcare provider can remove a skin tag in any of a number of simple outpatient procedures in their office. may need to be repeated depending on the size of the skin tag.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy involves freezing off a skin tag. Using a swab, your healthcare provider will apply cold liquid nitrogen on the tag to dissolve it. You may be left with a blister that will heal after a few days.

Cutting

For a small skin tag, your healthcare provider may recommend simply snipping it off with surgical scissors or a scalpel. Skin tags that are only slightly raised can also be shaved down. A larger tag removed in this way may require stitches, but usually a bandage will be all that’s needed to protect the area until it heals..

Diathermy/Electrosurgery

For this procedure sounds, your healthcare provider will use a wire with an electric current to burn off the skin tag. Depending on the size of the tag, you may need more than one treatment to completely remove it.

Ligation

Your healthcare provider will tie a piece of surgical thread around the skin tag to cut off blood flow. You will leave the thread in place until the tag falls off on its own, likely within a week.

Whichever procedure your healthcare provider chooses, they will first use a topical anesthetic to numb the skin tag and surrounding area to dull as much sensation as possible.

Complications Related to Skin Tag Removal

While most skin tag removals are quick and routine, they still pose potential risks, especially when performed at home. First, there is a risk of infection. Any time the skin is cut, infection can occur. If you have your skin tags removed in a healthcare provider’s office, this risk goes down because of their standard cleaning procedures.

There is also a risk of bleeding. In the case of a large tag, the bleeding could be considerable. The potential for bleeding will play a significant role in the method a healthcare provider chooses to use to remove a skin tag. Often cauterization is the best option for a skin tag that’s likely to bleed. Your healthcare provider can apply medication to the site to stop the bleeding if needed.

You may notice blistering or irritation after having your skin tags removed. There is also a risk of scarring and change in the color of the surrounding skin.

A Word From Verywell

It’s helpful to remember that most skin tags are harmless and don’t require any treatments at all. However, if you prefer to be skin tag-free, you have plenty of options. Whether it’s because of skin irritation or preference, removing your skin tags is a quick and simple procedure with the help of your dermatologist.

Even though there are countless home remedies out there, always talk with your healthcare provider first. They can perform a quick exam to make sure that growth really is a skin tag and not something more serious.

MedlinePlus. Cutaneous skin tag. July 11, 2019.

UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Removing moles and skin tags.

Skin Tag Removal: Do It Yourself or See a Professional?

There are many risks associated with at-home skin tag removal

Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado.

Skin tags ( acrochordons ) are harmless, noncancerous skin growths. Skin tag removal is possible, and some may opt for it simply because a growth is bothersome or they don’t like the look of it. But skin tag removal is not always necessary.

There are several suggestions on how to remove skin tags on your own, and some (though not all) may work. Still, it’s best to have a skin tag looked at by a skin specialist called a dermatologist. They can make sure the growth really is a skin tag, as opposed to skin cancer or another type of lesion, and remove the skin tag safely.

This article goes over what you should know about removing skin tags. You’ll learn about the options for removing a skin tag at home as well as professional skin tag removal.

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Iri-s / Getty Images

Reasons to Remove Skin Tags

Even if a skin tag does not hurt or cause discomfort, it can be an annoyance for other reasons, including:

At-Home Skin Tag Removal Methods

There are many different DIY methods for skin tag removal. The evidence on whether they work is mixed.

Some of these can be tried without concern for side effects, if you’re interested in seeing if they work for you. But others do pose risks and should be avoided.

Regardless, the biggest concern with these suggestions overall lies in that you would be using them on your own without 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, it bleeds, is painful, or grows quickly. These are not characteristics of a skin tag.

Toothpaste

Sometimes, people claim that using toothpaste can remove a skin tag. However, these claims are anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence that supports the method.

Skin Tag Removal Bands

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 poses the risk of infection, bleeding, scarring, and only partial removal of the skin tag, which can result in it growing back.

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.

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.

However, OTC kits do not lower the temperature enough to work. It may also take several applications before you see any results.

Dermatologists can use liquid nitrogen to get a lower skin temperature, making their freezing method more effective 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 scientific proof 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.

Professional Skin Tag Removal

A healthcare provider has several options for removing skin tags, including:

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

After cryosurgery, it takes approximately 10 days for the tag to fall off.

Will My Health Insurance Cover Skin Tag Removal?

Unless your skin tags are harming your physical or mental health, removing them is not usually covered by health insurance. A skin tag removal procedure is considered cosmetic, which means you will have to 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 may be told to keep the area clean and dry. If so, 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:

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

The cause of skin tags is unknown. That said, they often form in areas where there is skin-to-skin friction, like the armpits, groin or thighs, and under the breasts. Research has shown that that diabetes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and genetics may play a role in skin tag growth in some people.

There are many home remedies for removing skin tags that are claimed to be effective, like applying apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support these methods.

Everything You Need To Know About Skin Tag Removal And How To Do It Safely

Say goodbye to those skin tags.

If you haven’t ever found a weird little ailment known as a skin tag on your person, lucky you. But if you have, you’ll know that they can be annoying and unsightly, and tricky to deal with. We’ve spoken to an expert and done some serious digging (note: google images is NSF-your lunch break) to give you a super useful breakdown on how to deal with them.

What is a skin tag?

A skin tag is a little growth on the skin. Usually very small (although they can sometimes be an inch or so big), they’re soft and skin-coloured, and look like a bit of pinched or hanging skin.

They are smooth and not hard (unlike warts) and not contagious. And, not something to be ashamed of. ‘They’re very common, about 50-60% of people have them at some point’ says skin expert and clinic founder Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme. ‘They often run in the family too.’

Fun fact: the medical term is an acrochordon. Which doesn’t help with the sexiness.

What causes skin tags?

Sometimes, they’re unexplainable, or might occur due to changes in hormone levels. But most of the time they are caused by friction. Aesthetic doctor and skin expert Sophie Shotter explains, ‘the skin rubbing against skin creates thickened areas, which trap collagen and blood vessels, causing the skin tag’.

This loosens the collagen fibres, causing them to be trapped in these little loose pockets.

Where are they commonly found?

Due to the nature of how they’re formed, they’re most often seen in body folds where the most friction can occur: eye lids, armpits, under the breasts, and in the groin and neck.

Are they anything to worry about?

The short answer is, no. Not at all. They don’t usually cause pain or discomfort if left alone, and should not be mistaken with a mole. ‘Most skin tags are entirely benign’ reassures Dr Shotter, ‘in extremely rare circumstances are the ever precancerous or cancerous.’

How do I remove a skin tag?

‘Skin tags won’t go away naturally’ says Dr Ejikeme, so you’ll need to look into options if you want one removed.

Your GP won’t usually be able to help as it’s not a medical issue as such, so the best place to start is with a dermatologist or aesthetic doctor. They can make quick and comfortable work of them.

Both Dr Ekikeme and Dr Shotter tell us they would either use cauterisation (heat, to safely burn it off), or freeze them with Cryotherapy. Both, done well by someone experienced like Sophie, should leave things smooth and scar free when healed.

Other treatments include ligation (tying them off) and excision (cutting), but these include risks of bleeding.

Clipping Skin Tags: How to Remove Them Safely

Why you should see a provider instead of cutting skin tags off yourself

Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University.

Though they don’t have to be removed for health reasons, many people want skin tags clipped for cosmetic reasons or because they are irritating. They might even be tempted to cut a skin tag off with nail clippers or scissors. However, clipping a skin tag is best done by a healthcare provider.

They can ensure that skin tags are removed safely and virtually painlessly, that bleeding is stopped afterward, and that the area is properly cleaned to prevent infection when the removal is done.

This article covers the methods professional use to clip skin tags, as well as do-it-yourself removal strategies you may hear about.

What Are Skin Tags?

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Skin tags ( acrochordon ) are small pieces of skin usually located on the neck and in the armpit area. However, they can also be elsewhere on the body, including the back, trunk, abdomen, and various skin folds. It’s also possible to get genital and anal skin tags.

Skin tags are either dark or flesh-colored and no larger than 5 millimeters. Skin tags are usually painless but can become irritated if they catch on clothing or jewelry. Skin tags come in three forms:

Nobody knows why skin tags form, but hormones, growth factors, and infection may all play a part. They do not serve any purpose.

Although skin tags can be confused with warts, neurofibromas, or nevi (moles), most physicians are quick to identify these unsightly little skin stickers.

Skin tags are very rarely cancerous, and the vast majority require no biopsy.

Skin tags are very common. People who are overweight are particularly susceptible to the formation of skin tags. They’re also age-related. Skin tags increase in frequency through your 50s, and as many as 59% of people in their 70s have them.​ Skin tags may accompany type 2 diabetes as well.

Why It’s Not Safe to Clip a Skin Tag Yourself

Whenever you cut your skin, you risk damaging the tissue and creating a route for infection to get in.

It’s unlikely that anyone has sterile environment, the proper tools, and the know-how to remove a skin tag safely at home.

Healthcare practitioners, of course, do. And seeing one to have a skin tag clipped has the added benefit of being examined. What you think could be a skin tag could, in fact, be another skin condition—even skin cancer.

And if you’re overweight, have skin tags, and haven’t seen a doctor in some time, your provider may not only remove your skin tags but test (and, if necessary, treat) you for diabetes.

How Professionals Remove Skin Tags

Providers can remove skin tags in a few ways:

A skin tag might bleed when it’s removed. To stop bleeding from a skin tag, a provider can use a cotton tip applicator that contains aluminum chloride.

They will also ensure that the area is properly cleaned before and after to prevent infection.

At-Home Skin Tag Removal Methods

Instead of cutting off a skin tag yourself, there are some home remedies that some people have used in an attempt to make skin tags go away.

You can ask your provider if it would be safe to try these methods at home, just know that there’s no guarantee they’ll work.

Summary

Although you may figure that removing skin tags is as simple as grabbing a pair of scissors from the cupboard drawer, it isn’t.

First, the removal of skin tags should be performed by a trained healthcare professional who can do so in a sterile environment. Second, skin tags often accompany diabetes, a much more serious problem that requires medical evaluation.

A Word From Verywell

Many insurers refuse to cover the cost of skin tag removal because the procedure is done for aesthetic reasons. There are some exceptions, however, such as if a skin tag has become infected.

If you are enrolled in a plan, be sure to speak with your insurance company before scheduling an appointment to have skin tags taken off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Skin tags are made of harmless tissue, so cutting a skin tag or otherwise removing it will not cause cancer. However, it’s possible to mistake a potentially cancerous skin lesion (like a mole) for a simple skin tag. That’s why you should have a provider look at any skin mark or blemish that is concerning.

After your provider removes a skin tag, it won’t grow back. However, that doesn’t mean another one won’t grow in its place. Certain parts of your body might be more sensitive and more likely to get skin tags than others.

Skin tags can vary in color from being the same shade as your skin to a darker shade. If a skin tag turns black, brown, or purple it could mean that it isn’t getting a good supply of blood. If you notice a color change, it’s best to have your provider look.