Skin tags are small and harmless. They’re also common; 60% of people have at least one. But when they snag on your necklace, rub under your arms, or bleed after shaving, they no longer feel harmless.
If a skin tag is irritating you, you don’t have to live with it. At Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, removal is quick, safe, and done right here in our office.
Below, Drs. Seth and Matt Goodman explain what acrochordons are, when to consider removal, and what your skin tag removal options are.
Acrochordons are the medical term for skin tags. They are soft, flesh-colored growths that hang off the skin by a thin stalk.
They most often appear where skin rubs against skin. You’ll commonly see them on the neck, underarms, eyelids, beneath the breasts, or in the groin area. Even though they are benign (non-cancerous), they can still be uncomfortable and cosmetically frustrating.
Skin tags often develop in areas of friction. They become more common with age and may run in families. Metabolic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, and hormonal fluctuations, including menopause and pregnancy, can increase your risk of developing skin tags.
You may notice more over time. That’s normal. What matters, though, is making sure each growth is truly a skin tag and not something else. This is one reason why you shouldn’t try to remove a skin tag on your own. Before we explore your skin tag removal options, Drs. Goodman and Goodman first confirm that your skin growth is indeed a skin tag.
You don’t have to remove a skin tag unless it bothers you. Many people choose removal when a tag:
If a lesion changes color, grows quickly, or looks irregular, you should have it evaluated, regardless of whether the lesion snags on clothes or jewelry.
At Goodman Dermatology & Mohs Surgery, we remove skin tags using safe, effective techniques performed right in the office. Our team selects the method based on the size, thickness, and location of the skin tag.
Clipping means that we “clip” the skin tag off. It works well for small, narrow skin tags. During a clipping procedure, we use sterile instruments to snip the tag at its base.
The advantage here is that clipping is quick, and most people leave the office with minimal aftercare.
Freezing, also called cryotherapy, destroys tissue by freezing it. We apply liquid nitrogen directly to the skin tag. The treated area may sting briefly; it then forms a small scab before the tag falls off. This option works well for smaller lesions.
Electrocautery uses controlled heat to remove the tag and seal the tissue at the same time. This method reduces bleeding (since it seals the tissue) and allows for precise treatment. Drs. Matt and Seth Goodman numb the area first, so you stay comfortable throughout the procedure.
Even though cryotherapy and electrocautery are both effective, studies show that people often prefer electrocautery for treating skin tags and cherry angioma.
For larger or thicker skin tags, we may perform a shave removal. We numb the area with local anesthesia, then carefully remove the growth at the skin level.
At-home skin tag removal kits may seem convenient, but they carry risks. You can misdiagnose a lesion, which then delays treatment for something more serious. Trying to cut your own skin tag off may increase your risk of infection, which is particularly dangerous if you have diabetes.
When you choose professional care at Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, you get:
You also gain peace of mind knowing that you’ve taken care of a benign skin growth.
If a skin tag irritates you or affects your confidence (or you’re not sure if you’re dealing with a skin tag or another type of growth), schedule an evaluation in Sun City, Sun City West, or Wickenburg, Arizona.
Call (623) 254-7375 or click here to get started.