Skin tags commonly develop on the epidermis, the uppermost of the three layers of skin, in middle age. They are common in both men and women and often develop in skin folds. The neck, under the arms, between the legs, under the breasts, and the eyelids are common areas for skin tags to develop. Electric cauterization is a surgical procedure that heats tissue with electricity. Electric cauterization of skin tags is usually performed by a dermatologist.
Features
Skin tags are benign (non-cancerous) growths. They are usually painless, though clothing and jewelry can become snagged on them, which can be irritating. Though they are not harmful, skin tags are often unsightly. Skin tag removal is usually performed for cosmetic reasons.
Skin tags are not contagious, but the appearance of more than one in any given area is common. Some individuals will develop 50 to 100 tags in an area. Because of the sheer quantity, or because of the size of the tag, treatment by a medical practitioner may be preferable to home treatment.
Identification
There are a number of skin conditions and diseases that resemble skin tags. Some of these are more serious and so consulting a doctor can be the smart option. Seborrhoeic keratoses, viral warts and molluscum contagiosum all visibly resemble skin tags.
Procedure
If electric cauterization is the chosen form of removal, the dermatologist will first clean the area to be treated. Because the procedure can be slightly painful, she may apply a topical anesthetic to numb the skin prior to injecting a local anesthetic injection. The area may feel slightly cold, and you may feel a small tug when the injection is inserted.
There are a number of medical cauterization devices. Your dermatologist will choose one and will use the instrument to burn the skin tag away. At this time, there might be a slight smell of burning flesh. If there is any chance that the growth was not a skin tag, your doctor may choose to send the sample to a lab to be biopsied.
Considerations
Electric cauterization will cause a small amount of scarring. Your skin may be prone to increased scarring. Your dermatologist will review ways to minimize this with you.
Potential
Though an individual may develop a large number of skin tags over time, they do not regrow in the same spot. Removal is therefore permanent. As new ones appear, you may choose to return to the dermatologist's office to have them removed as well.
