Skin tags are common, small, benign growths often found in skin folds like the neck, armpits, and groin. While generally harmless, many choose cryotherapy for removal, a method that freezes the skin tag. The process involves a sensation but is typically well-tolerated.
Understanding the Sensation During Freezing
During freezing, often performed with liquid nitrogen, a distinct sensation occurs. Patients report a sharp, stinging, or burning feeling at the application site. This sensation is compared to touching something very cold or a brief ice burn. Discomfort is usually temporary, lasting seconds to a minute during application.
The extreme cold quickly numbs the area, alleviating initial stinging. Cryotherapy aims to freeze skin tag cells, causing them to die. Professional cryotherapy typically uses liquid nitrogen, which is more intense than at-home kits using different refrigerants. The immediate sensation is primarily due to the rapid temperature drop on the skin.
What to Expect After the Procedure
After freezing, the treated area may feel tender, sore, or itchy. This is a normal part of the body’s healing response. The skin tag typically turns white or pale immediately after freezing, then darkens and scabs as the tissue dies.
A blister, sometimes blood-filled, may form within hours or a day. This blistering is an expected outcome of effective cryotherapy. Over one to two weeks, the blister typically flattens, and the skin tag dries out, scabs over, and eventually falls off.
Mild discomfort during this healing phase is common. However, severe or increasing pain, unusual tenderness, or cloudy fluid from a blister should prompt medical evaluation. Keep the area clean and avoid picking at the scab to promote proper healing and minimize infection or scarring.
Factors Influencing Discomfort and Healing
Several factors influence discomfort during and after skin tag freezing, as well as the healing timeline. The size and location of the skin tag play a role; larger skin tags or those in sensitive areas like the eyelids or groin may cause more discomfort during and after the procedure. Individual pain tolerance also varies.
The specific method of freezing affects intensity; professional cryotherapy, often using liquid nitrogen, is more intense than over-the-counter kits, which may use milder refrigerants. Consequently, sensation and healing might differ. Treating multiple skin tags in a single session may increase overall localized discomfort. Healing time also varies, with most skin tags falling off within 7 to 14 days, though larger ones may take up to a month.