How to remove skin tags safely and effectively

tag – you are it.

Definitely not as fun as the game you play during breaks, skin tags are one of those issues that most people have to deal with at some point. While they don’t cause pain or cause health problems, the raised and mole-like appearance can be unpleasant, depending on where they tend to form.

If you’ve ever considered getting rid of skin tags, look no further. Here, we interviewed three skin experts to weigh in on all things related to skin tags, including permanent removal.

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What is a skin tag?
“Skin tags are very common, harmless, soft, flesh-colored growths that consist of normal skin and usually have a short stem or stalk,” explains Dr. Peter Young, a Massachusetts board-certified dermatologist and Facet medical director.

Kerry Benjamin, California aesthetician and CEO and founder of StackedSkincare, says skin tags are typically found on the neck, chest and underarms, but can also appear on the eyelids, groin or anywhere there is friction. Skin.

What causes skin tags?
While the underlying cause of skin tags is ultimately unknown, there are some things that can trigger their growth. David Colbert, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, says friction can cause them, as well as rapid weight loss or weight gain. Since friction is an important factor in causing skin tags, Dr. Young added that people with skin folds tend to have them.

He also said skin tags tend to be genetic, and the older you get, the more likely you are to develop them. Finally, Drs. Benjamin and Colbert say that people with diabetes are also prone to develop skin tags.

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What’s the best way to get rid of skin tags?
No matter how tempting or easy it may seem, don’t try to remove skin tags yourself. There are several popular home remedies floating around the Internet, but Benjamin warns that they can be dangerous. “[They] can cause more irritation, bleeding and possible infection,” she says. Therefore, she recommends leaving them alone or seeing a doctor for removal.

Dr. Young says there are several ways to remove the skin tag, including cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), electrosurgery (burning it off with a cautery device), and cutting the tag off with surgical scissors or a scalpel blade – all of which this requires under the supervision of a dermatologist.