How am I to dispose of a skin tag?
Skin tags, those small flaps of tissue that dangle from the skin, are common and benign but can be annoying or unsightly. Skin tags are often found in areas where the skin rubs against other parts of the body or clothing such as the neck, armpits or eyelids. Although they are not dangerous, many people choose to get rid of them. This is a complete guide on how one can safely remove skin tags with information on when it’s right to turn to home remedies and when you should seek advice from a board-certified aesthetician or dermatologist.
Understanding Skin Tags
Before you decide on removal, it’s important to understand what skin tags are. Composed of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels surrounded by skin, skin tags are typically flesh-colored. They are more common in middle age and in people who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes. They do not result due to cancerous cells nor can they pass from one person to another.
Home Remedies for Removing Skin Tags
Many people opt for home remedies to remove skin tags. Below some popular methods:
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antifungal and antiseptic properties which make it commonly used for treating skin tag problems. To use tea tree oil:
Clean the area surrounding the tag using water and soap.
Dip a clean cotton swab in water then pour some drops of tea tree oil.
Apply the swab onto your tag before covering it overnight with a bandage.
Repeat this procedure every night until your tag gets dry and falls off.
However, caution must be taken because tea tree oil may cause allergic reactions to certain individuals; therefore, testing it on a small portion is highly advised initially before its application.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
The acidity found in apple cider vinegar can help to destroy the tissue around a skin tag:
Soak an apple cider vinegar in some cotton wool and place it on the label.
Fasten with some bandage and wait for some hours.
Do this every day for around 2 weeks until the label falls off.
However, you should be careful about using this technique because if used too much acid can also burn other parts of your skin.
3. Home Freezing Kits
These kits use a small application of liquid nitrogen to freeze skin tags, causing them to fall off within a week or two. However, to avoid harming one’s skin surrounding the tags, it is important that one follows very carefully the maker’s instructions.
Medical Treatments
If home remedies do not work, or if you prefer a quicker solution, several medical treatments are available:
1. Cryotherapy
Performed by a healthcare professional, this treatment uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin tag. It’s a quick procedure, typically causing the tag to fall off within a few weeks. More than one treatment may sometimes be required.
2. Surgical Removal
For larger skin tags, surgical removal with sterilized surgical scissors is an option. This method involves numbing the area with local anesthesia and cutting off the tag, ensuring complete removal. It takes little time and there is usually only a faint mark left afterwards.
3. Plasma Fibroblast Therapy
The newer technology uses plasma to create a small electrical arc that can treat skin tags by causing controlled damage to the cells, encouraging regeneration and tightening of the skin. This should be performed by a specialist trained in the technique.
When to See a Dermatologist
If not sure if it’s just another growth or skin tag, it is better consult with board certified dermatologist or aesthetician.
A sensitive area like an eyelid is affected with this particular skin tag.
If it changes color, bleeds or start growing.
Your immune system is weakened or you have diabetes among other underlying conditions.
Accordingly, The American Academy of Dermatology discourages removal of skin tags without medical advice especially where diagnosis is uncertain or when the tag is large in size.
Preventing Skin Tags
While you cannot always prevent them; maintaining a healthy weight and controlling diseases such as type 2 diabetes will decrease their chances. Also, for regions where friction occurs between skins one can avoid developing these ailments by putting on loose clothing and using powder pads and protective clothing so as to minimize friction between them.
Conclusion
Skin tags are very common but fortunately they are harmless and can be removed easily using various methods at home and through medical treatments. Whether you decide to remove using homemade remedies like apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil or professional ones including cryotherapy or surgical excision, factors such as your general health status, location of the tag and its size need to be taken into account. Always ensure safety first and see a doctor for further guidance concerning the best method of removing unwanted skin tags if in doubt.
Comments