Skin tags are common, harmless skin growths many people consider having removed. These small, noncancerous growths often appear where skin rubs against itself or clothing, such as the neck, armpits, or eyelids. Their appearance or irritation can lead individuals to seek removal, raising questions about discomfort.
The Sensation of Removal
The sensation during skin tag removal varies, described as minimal discomfort, often akin to a brief pinch or sting. Factors influencing this include the skin tag’s size and location. Tags in sensitive areas like the eyelids or groin may cause slightly more sensation. Personal pain tolerance also affects perception.
Healthcare professionals frequently use local anesthetics to manage discomfort. These include numbing creams applied topically or small injections that numb the area around the skin tag. With anesthetics, most patients report little to no pain during removal, sometimes only slight pressure. This approach minimizes discomfort, making the procedure well-tolerated.
Professional Removal Methods
Healthcare professionals employ effective methods to remove skin tags, designed to minimize discomfort. Excision involves using sterile surgical scissors or a scalpel to snip the tag off at its base. This method is performed after applying a local anesthetic, making it painless.
Cryotherapy involves freezing the skin tag with liquid nitrogen. The tag freezes and falls off within a few days to weeks. Patients may experience a mild stinging or burning sensation, similar to holding an ice cube, during freezing.
Electrocauterization, also known as hyfrecation, uses a heated electrical current to burn off the skin tag. A numbing cream or local anesthetic is applied beforehand, resulting in a quick procedure with minimal or mild stinging.
Ligation involves tying a small thread or band tightly around the skin tag’s base, cutting off its blood supply. The tag then wihers and falls off, which is painless, though mild discomfort may occur as the tag shrinks.
Post-Removal Care
Immediately following skin tag removal, minor bleeding, redness, or slight swelling in the treated area are common. The area may also form a small scab, a normal part of healing. This scab falls off naturally within 7 to 10 days, revealing new pink skin.
Proper aftercare facilitates healing and prevents complications. Keeping the treated area clean and dry is advised. Gently wash the area with mild soap and water, patting it dry carefully.
Patients should avoid picking scabs and protect the area from rubbing or irritation. While mild soreness is possible, it is manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers if needed. Contact a healthcare provider if infection signs appear: increased redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever.
The Risks of Self-Removal
Attempting to remove skin tags at home carries substantial risks and is discouraged. Infection is a significant risk, as homemade methods lack sterility, introducing bacteria into the wound. Skin tags are vascular (contain blood vessels), and improper removal can lead to uncontrolled bleeding. This bleeding can be difficult to stop.
Self-removal can also result in scarring, potentially more noticeable than the original tag. There is a risk of misidentifying the growth. What appears to be a skin tag could be a more serious condition, like a mole or skin cancer, requiring professional diagnosis and treatment. Removing it at home could delay diagnosis and worsen the condition.