Skin Tags

Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are skin-colored growths that look like tiny balloons held up by slender stalks. They are generally found in areas where the skin rubs together, such as the armpits, neck, under the breasts, and groin area. Skin tags can appear alone and isolated or in groups.

Some people call skin tags warts or skin tabs. Physicians and dermatologists may also use the following terms for these lesions:

• Fibroepithelial polyps
• Soft fibromas
• Papillomas

Men and women are equally prone to developing skin tags on their bodies. The people who are most prone to getting skin tags are diabetic patients, pregnant women, and people who are overweight.

Solutions for Skin Tags

Skin tags are harmless; however, many people find them to be cosmetically unappealing and would like treatment.

If you want to remove one or more skin tags, Houck Dermatology offers the following options to remove them: liquid nitrogen (freezing), snipping, and burning. All of these methods are quite effective and usually require a single treatment for permanent skin-tag removal.

Freezing (Cryosurgery)

Freezing away a skin tag, also known as cryosurgery, involves the controlled use of liquid nitrogen. In this technique, liquid nitrogen is applied to the skin tag with the help of a cotton swab, spray, or other method.

Liquid nitrogen instantly lowers the temperature of the cells in the skin tag, freezing them. A burning sensation is felt in the skin during treatment and afterwards for a time. A blister forms in the area, along with a scab. After about 10 to 14 days, the scab and the skin tag will fall away.

Snipping

In this method, the area of the skin with the skin tag is first numbed with a local anesthetic. Dr. Houck uses special sterile scissors to cut the tag off. Finally, a bandage is applied to the region.

Do not attempt to use this method at home, as it can lead to extreme pain, infections, excessive bleeding, and other complications.

Burning (Electrocauterization)

Burning, also known as electrocauterization, is a method of skin-tag removal that makes use of electric current. The current is generated using a medical instrument that has a thin needle at one end. The current creates intense heat in the needle.

At the start of the treatment, the area with the skin tag is numbed using local anesthetic, making the procedure more comfortable for the patient.

After this, the needle is held against the skin tag, sending heat into it. This burns the cells in a careful and controlled manner. The cells are carefully removed, and a bandage is placed over the region.

Schedule Your Consultation

It is advisable to see Dr. Gregory Houck at Houck Dermatology if you would like to get skin tags removed. Professional removal is the safest method available.

Feel free to contact us and set up a consultation if you would like to talk about removing any skin tags that might be bothering you. We would be happy to discuss your options with you and will do everything we can to make your visit as comfortable as possible.