Skin tags are benign skin growths and are also referred to as acrochordons. They resemble a piece of hanging skin and can be commonly found on the neck, breasts, arms and eyelids. Skin tags can start out very small and grow to be as large as a grape. Skin tags are thought to be caused by persistent friction to a particular area of the skin, along with hormone fluctuations. Your doctor may wish to examine the skin tag to confirm that the growth is non-cancerous.
Step 1
Clean the area of the skin that contains the skin tag. Use mild soap and lukewarm water. Pat the skin dry with a towel.
Step 2
Separate the skin tag from your skin by tying it with a small piece of dental floss. If you don't have dental floss available, you can use thread. According to the People's Pharmacy website, this is an easy and old fashioned way to get rid of benign tags.
Step 3
Knot the end of the floss after you have tied it very tightly around the skin tag. The goal is to cut off circulation to the area.
Step 4
Wait for the skin tag to fall off. It should come off within a week. During treatment, you may wish to keep the tag protected with a small piece of gauze and medical tape.
Step 5
Make an appointment with your doctor if you are unsuccessful at removing the skin tag at home. During the consultation, the doctor will discuss the various methods like surgical excision, cryotherapy and electrolysis. A surgical excision procedure involves the cutting off of the skin tag. For cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is applied to the skin tag to freeze it off. If the doctor suggests electrolysis, electrical currents burn off the skin tag.
Tips and Warnings
- As an alternative, you can use wart removal cream to get rid of skin tags. Apply a small amount of a wart removal topical solution to the site daily. Choose a wart removal solution that contains a high concentration of salicylic acid, at least 17.5 percent.
Things You'll Need
- Dental floss or thread
- Gauze (optional)
- Medical tape (optional)
