Before we delve into how to remove skin tags, let’s get one thing straight: Skin tags are 100% natural. They happen to most of us at some point and are benign. Skin tags mostly pop up in places where things rub up against your skin frequently like the neck, armpits, eyelids, and groin areas, to name a few. Much like birthmarks and moles, these brownish bumps are absolutely harmless. But for folks who find them aesthetically unpleasing and inconvenient, there are numerous ways to get rid of them.
Before you pick up the floss and start sluffing them off, we spoke to Dr Chytra Anand, Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist and Founder of SkinQ, for her professional take.
What are Skin Tags?
“Skin tags also known as Dermatosis Papulosa Nigricans are small growths of skin in places where the friction of the skin is high. These are mostly collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by a thick epidermal layer of skin. Skin Tags are also commonly known as Pamplona or acrochordon. These are benign growths, meaning they are harmless and non-cancerous,” says Dr Chytra Anand.
What Causes Skin Tags?
There are a couple of reasons why skin tags are formed on your skin. Skin ageing tops the chart. With ageing skin, the possibility of skin rubbing against each other increases. These lead to the growth of skin tags. Obesity and stage-two diabetes are also known contributors to those skin tags. In addition to this, genetics plays a major role in skin tags. If your skin tags are cosmetically unsightly, occasionally itchy, and sore, these are the indications for you to visit your dermatologist.
Can We Remove Them On Our Own?
No matter how badly you want to get rid of that soft fleshy growth on your own, experts recommend against the idea of doing so. It’s best to get it removed by a professional. If you do it by yourself, it increases the chances of significant bleeding and infection that might be difficult to put a stop to at home by yourself.
Is There Anything We Can Do To Avoid Them?
Unfortunately, you can’t do much to keep them at bay. But minimising friction can help to a certain extent. Especially for those who are into sports, running, or any other friction-inducing activity. Something like not wearing jewellery can also help reduce friction and avoid skin tags in the neck area.
What Are the Best Ways To Remove Skin tags?
“There are a number of different ways we can remove skin tags. A word of caution, never do it by yourself. Those can bleed and cause further skin issues,” says Dr Chytra Anand. One of the most commonly used methods in the past was cryotherapy where the dermatologist freezes the skin tag with liquid nitrogen. The current common method is electrocautery, where an electric probe or needle is used to burn off the excess skin. These days if there are many, then a Co2 laser is used instead of cryo or cautery to remove the skin tags. This leaves a scab on the skin for up to 5 days and clears.
Buh-bye skin tags!
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