Skin tag removal

Skin tags develop in almost one-half of the adult population. While these elevated skin growths don’t pose any significant health hazards, they can prove both uncomfortable and embarrassing, depending on their location. Fortunately, a qualified dermatologist can remove your unsightly skin tags safely and easily.

What does a skin tag look like?
A skin tag usually consists of a soft, bulbous growth attached to the rest of the body by a stalk known as a peduncle. Skin tags may grow several centimeters in diameter, but they usually attain just a couple of millimeters in size. Some skin tags appear more elongated than bulbous in shape.

Most skin tags either assume the same coloration as the rest of your skin or appear slightly darker, although a skin tag that has lost its blood supply may turn black. They usually appear wherever the skin encounters frequent frictions, such as the armpits or groin. They may also develop on the neck or eyelids.

Why do skin tags develop?
No one can say exactly why people get skin tags. Genetics would seem to play a role, since they tend to run in families. Hormonal changes in pregnancy may promote the development of skin tags. Obese individuals and individuals over 50 years of age often get them, although practically anyone can develop them.

Researchers have noticed an association between insulin resistance or triglyceride levels and skin tag risk. Studies indicate that sufferers from these issues have a higher risk of developing multiple skin tags.

How are skin tags treated?
At Ziva Skin and Hair Center, we have multiple ways of removing skin tags. Excision, which involves simply cutting the skin tag off at its stalk, offers a quick, simple solution. To reduce the odds of infection, the dermatologist may prefer to use cauterization, which burns the skin tag away while also closing the wound.

Cryotherapy provides yet another option for skin tag removal. In this procedure, the dermatologist freezes the skin tag with super-cold liquid nitrogen. The cold kills the skin tag, which then falls off within about 10 days.

How can we reduce chances of developing skin tags?
You can’t fight genetics or aging, both risk factors in skin tag development. However, you can work to control certain other risk factors. For example, if you suffer from obesity, safe weight-loss strategies can eliminate that risk factor. Treatment for diabetes or other contributing conditions may also help.