Skin tags are common, harmless skin growths that appear in friction areas like the neck, armpits, or groin. They are small, soft, and usually flesh-colored, often appearing to hang off the skin by a tiny stalk. While benign, their appearance can bother individuals or become irritated by friction. Freezing, also known as cryotherapy, is a common method for removal.
Understanding Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves using extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue. For skin tags, this typically means applying a freezing agent directly to the growth. The most common substance used is liquid nitrogen. Other cryogens, such as a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane, are also employed. The freezing agent is applied with specialized devices, such as a spray gun, cotton swab, or cryoprobe.
This rapid cooling causes the water within the skin tag cells to form ice crystals. These crystals disrupt the cell membranes and internal structures, leading to cell damage and death. The process also affects the surrounding microvessels, cutting off the skin tag’s blood supply.
Immediate Reactions After Freezing
Immediately after the freezing agent is applied, the treated area undergoes noticeable changes. The treated area typically turns white or grayish due to the intense cold. A stinging, burning, or aching sensation is common during and shortly after the procedure, which generally subsides within minutes.
Within hours to about a day following treatment, it is common for the treated area to show signs of inflammation, including swelling and redness. A blister, which can be clear or blood-filled, often forms at the site of the treated skin tag. This is a normal response, indicating targeted cells were affected.
The Healing Journey and Expected Outcome
The healing process after freezing a skin tag takes several days to weeks. The blister that forms typically darkens and may flatten as it dries out. This blister eventually forms a scab over the treated area, which protects the healing skin underneath.
The scab, along with the now-dead skin tag, usually detaches naturally within one to three weeks following the cryotherapy. The timeline varies depending on the skin tag’s size, location, and individual healing rates. Once the scab falls off, the new skin underneath is often pink or lighter in color than the surrounding skin, but it generally re-pigments over time. Larger skin tags may sometimes require more than one freezing session to be completely removed.
Important Safety Considerations
While cryotherapy is a common method for skin tag removal, important safety considerations exist. Temporary side effects include localized pain, swelling, and blister formation. Temporary changes in skin color, such as lightening (hypopigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation), can occur, especially in individuals with darker skin tones, though these often improve over time. Minor scarring is a rare possibility.
Seeking professional medical advice is advisable, particularly for skin tags that are large, bleeding, or show rapid changes in appearance. Tags located in sensitive areas, such as near the eyes or genitals, should also be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Freezing might not be suitable for everyone, including those with certain skin conditions, individuals with very dark skin more prone to discoloration, or those taking blood thinners. Consulting a doctor is recommended to confirm that a growth is indeed a skin tag and not another type of skin lesion, as self-diagnosis can be inaccurate.