How To Get Rid of Skin Tags

Skin tags are a common occurrence. They often develop on areas of your body where skin rubs together, like your neck, armpit or groin.

“Skin tags affect people of all ages and body types and can occur anywhere, including your face,” says dermatologist Pamela Ng, MD.

Most of the time, skin tags are nothing more than unsightly and annoying. But occasionally, there can be more to them, which is why you shouldn’t attempt to remove them yourself.

Dr. Ng explains the risks involved with at-home treatments and how your doctor can safely remove skin tags during a brief office visit.

Skin tag removal options

Most of the time, skin tags don’t need to be removed unless they’re causing issues.

“If it’s truly a skin tag, then it’s of no concern,” Dr. Ng says. “It only becomes a concern when skin tags are twisted, irritated or bleeding.”

Medical professional-approved methods

Skin tag removals are meant to be quick and painless. A healthcare professional can do one of these procedures in their office after numbing the area:

• Snipping: They’ll use a blade or surgical scissors to excise (cut off) the skin tag. The area may need bandages based on the size or location.
• Electrosurgery: Using a small needle, an electric current is used to burn off the skin tag and prevent bleeding.
• Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen (extremely cold gas) is used to freeze the skin tag. About 10 to 14 days later, it will fall off on its own.

“I like the method of snipping best because it’s clean and the skin tags are gone by the time someone leaves the office,” shares Dr. Ng. “Freezing can cause greater inflammation to the surrounding skin and multiple treatments may be necessary, depending on the size and location of the skin tag.”

Skin tags in more complicated areas, like your eyelids, can also be removed if they bother you.

“Skin tags on the eyelids can be tricky to remove due to the location,” she adds. “But we can safely snip them or use electrosurgery in most cases as long as people remain calm during the procedure.”

Can you get rid of skin tags at home?

There are several over-the-counter options for skin tag removal — but none of them are typically recommended or dermatologist-approved. Dr. Ng says these at-home options carry risks for infection, bleeding, irritation and further injury:

• Removal creams and patches: These could take up to a week or longer to work, but they can also cause irritation, redness, burning or skin ulcers.
• Freeze kits: Typically marketed for the removal of warts, these use nitrous oxide or a combination of dimethyl ether, propane and isobutane to destroy a skin tag. But they’re not as effective as medical cryotherapy, and can damage the surrounding skin.
• Tea tree oil: Some people swear by tea tree oil for skin tag removal, but it commonly causes allergic contact dermatitis and can take several weeks to show any signs of improvement.
• Apple cider vinegar: Like tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar can cause skin irritation or even chemical burns. It can also cause redness and skin ulcers.
• Vitamin E oil: It’s believed that massaging vitamin E oil over your skin tag can help shrink a skin tag in days. But there’s a lack of research supporting this claim. It could also cause contact dermatitis.

Recovery and aftercare

Infections and complications are rare when skin tags are removed by medical professionals. In the hours after a procedure, you may need to wear a bandage or apply antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection and bleeding.

You may also be asked to clean the area with soap and water and replace bandages in the first day or two after removal. In most cases, aftercare for skin tags is minimal.

Final thoughts

It’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider if a skin tag or anything else pops up on your skin. They’ll be able to identify the right treatment options and determine if anything could be skin cancer.

“You certainly don’t want to be using any home remedies on a mole or skin cancer,” stresses Dr. Ng. “It’s best to see a professional to get your skin tags removed or have any concerning changes examined.”

At the end of the day, skin tags are often just cosmetic. But if they bother you enough or you’re interested in removing them, it’s relatively easy to do — with a simple call to a healthcare provider.