Skin tabs are common, soft, benign growths that occur primarily on the armpits, neck and groin. They consist of blood vessels and collagen fibers, and are often confused with viral warts or seborrheic keratosis. Skin tabs affect both men and women and become more common with increasing age. Most are approximately skin color, and range in size from 1 mm to 5 cm. People who are obese or who suffer from diabetes are more prone to skin tabs, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society.
Step 1
Use a suture thread to tie off your skin tab, which will cause it to wither and fall off your body. Wrap the thread tightly around the neck, or stalk, of the skin tab to cut off the blood supply. The tab should fall off within one week.
Step 2
Sterilize a pair of scissors with rubbing alcohol, and then snip off your skin tab near its base. Apply ice or an over-the-counter numbing agent, such as benzocaine, to the tab and surrounding skin to minimize any pain. The wound should scab over and heal quickly. Report any increase in pain, redness or swelling to your doctor, as these may be signs of an infection.
Step 3
Visit a dermatologist to remove of your skin tab if you cannot or do not wish to remove it at home. Your doctor can use a scalpel to shave off the tab. Stitches are usually not necessary, but the procedure may cause a small scar.
Step 4
Opt for electrocautery to remove larger skin tabs. Electrocautery works by burning the tissue that makes up the tab. Dr. Herbert P. Goodheart of Mount Sinai College of Medicine says recovery is minimal and local anesthesia can effectively reduce any pain associated with the procedure.
Step 5
Remove your skin tag by undergoing cryosurgery. This outpatient procedure will freeze your skin tab with liquid nitrogen, causing it to die and fall off. The New Zealand Dermatological Society states that cryosurgery may cause temporary blistering or scarring.
Tips and Warnings
- According to Dr. Robert A Schwartz of the UMDJJ-New Jersey Medical School, skin tabs affect about half of the population and increase in frequency until the age of 50.
Things You'll Need
- Suture thread
- Rubbing alcohol
- Scissors
- Over-the-counter numbing ointment
