Removing Skin Tags
Skin tags are usually benign but very common, especially in women as they get older, and so naturally many of those people affected will be interested in finding out about removing skin tags. Skin tags are tiny finger like projections which arise out of the skin. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented and either simply raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk (a peduncle) so that the skin tag hangs from the skin. They tend to grow in areas where the skin is relaxed and not taut such as around the eyes, under the armpits, on the neck and in the genital areas.
Many people want to remove skin tags because of cosmetic reasons, or it may be that they are being irritated by jewelry, clothing or even shaving. In the case of genital skin tags, these can easily become chaffed or infected by lovemaking or because the groin is a moist area where the skin can be extra sensitive and tender. Skin tags in the genital area can even become unhygienic if debris gets trapped by them. When any of these things happen, it becomes more important to remove skin tags.
Listed below are some examples of removing skin tags and dangers that such methods might cause:
Your doctor can use a local anesthetic in the form of EMLA cream can be used before the skin tag is removed by diathermy which is better known as electro surgery. When used on larger skin tags, this method can be painful unless a conventional local anesthetic is administered first. This method can be traumatic for many patients and there is the danger of possible scarring.
Thin small skin tags can be removed by your doctor by snipping them off at their base using an iris or Gradle scissors. Local pressure or a topical agent such as aluminum chloride or Monsel’s solution should then be used. Both agents can cause a stinging or burning reaction unless the area was pre-anesthetized. After the procedure, one small surgical dressing is applied to each wound.
Don’t try to remove skin tags yourself by snipping off with a pair of scissors because of the risk of infection and excessive bleeding. You might even have mistaken your skin tags for some other skin growth and it could be dangerous to mess around with other kinds of growths.
The danger of treatment with liquid nitrogen, whether applied with a cotton-tipped applicator or sprayed with a Cryogun, can result in tissue damage if applied to the area beyond the target itself.
Another method using liquid nitrogen which provides a rapid and painless treatment for small skin tags is where a nontoothed forceps or a needle holder is dipped into liquid nitrogen for 15 seconds before being used to gently grasp the stalk of each skin tag for about 10 seconds. Care has to be taken not to touch the surrounding skin. This is particularly useful for those skin tags hanging off the eyelids because the procedure can be carried out while you are lying down and there is no danger of dripping of chemicals or any other product near the eye itself.
One method worth investigating is where a natural healing product is applied with a Q-tip to the skin tag. The anti viral oils of the formula, which is made from pure essential oils, remove the skin tags gently and effectively. The big plus is that there is no skin irritation or scarring. This product can even be used to remove skin tags on the eyelids and in the genital area.
There is even the old home remedy you can try of tying thread at the base of the skin tag to cause strangulation and thereby remove skin tags. This method can be used successfully with the smallest of skin tags but would actually be a rather prolonged exercise with anything bigger - and not to mention unsightly!
Like other ageing issues, the appearance of skin tags goes with the territory. But the good news is that you can do something about it when you make the effort to remove skin tags.
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