Skin tags occur frequently during pregnancy, the American Pregnancy Association indicates, but also can occur in every stage of life to anyone. They appear as small, hanging bits of skin that form at the panty line and rectal area. In middle-age adults, skin tags often occur on the neck and under the arms. They also occur on the back of the legs. They can cause pain if irritated. In many cases, people do not want them and seek removal methods. Surgical methods, such as freezing and cutting, can remove them, but you can remove simple, small skin tags at home.
Step 1
Clean the area with an antiseptic and wash your hands thoroughly, to avoid infection at the skin tag and the surrounding area.
Step 2
Place the mirror so you can see the skin tag. Using a surgical waxed thread will help to secure the bottom half of the skin tag where it attaches to the body. Clean the thread with an antiseptic such as rubbing alcohol to get it ready for use. Do this immediately prior to performing the procedure to prevent the possibility of any foreign material from contaminating the thread.
Step 3
Circle the skin tag with the thread, keeping your hands steady.
Step 4
Tie a tight knot around the base of the skin tag. The knot needs to be tight enough to cause a disruption of circulation of blood to the skin tag. It may not feel comfortable and it may take several attempts before you succeed in tying the tag tightly.
Step 5
Check the area to make certain you have secured the thread. Once you have tied the skin tag tightly, you will then need to cut the thread an inch from the knot. This will give you some leeway in case you need to adjust the thread.
Step 6
Monitor the area for redness and signs of infection. You should see the skin tag turn black and fall off in a few days. Keep the area dry and clean while the skin tag remains and until it falls off. Report any drainage or signs of infection to a doctor, SkinTagsRemoval.org advises.
Tips and Warnings
- Having this done in a doctor's office remains safer, especially if the skin tag is in a difficult place to reach.
- If the skin tag appears large or this procedure of tying off the skin tag worries you at all, go to a doctor to at least get his opinion. While he probably will recommend that he does the procedure, he can offer you his medical opinion about any potential dangers of doing it yourself.
Things You'll Need
- Surgical thread
- Mirror
- Scissors
- Antiseptic
