Skin tags are small, soft, harmless growths of skin. They are very common and often appear where skin rubs together or against clothing, such as the neck, armpits and groin. They are not dangerous, and most people have a few without ever needing to do anything about them.
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Do skin tags need to be removed?
Skin tags do not need removal unless they catch on clothing or jewellery, get irritated, or simply bother you. If you do want one removed, the safe route is a short appointment with a doctor, not a home remedy.
Safe removal options
Safe removal is a quick minor procedure carried out by a doctor. The usual methods are snipping the tag off, freezing it (cryotherapy), or removing it with cautery. The area is treated cleanly, and the doctor can also check that the growth really is a harmless skin tag.
What to avoid: cutting and caustic pastes
Never try to cut a skin tag off yourself. Cutting your own skin risks bleeding and infection, and the wound can scar. Tying thread around a tag at home carries the same risks.
Also avoid caustic pastes and creams that promise to burn skin tags away, including products based on ingredients such as bloodroot or zinc chloride. These substances are known as escharotics: they burn skin indiscriminately rather than targeting the tag, and they can cause severe wounds, scarring and infection.
The risk of getting the diagnosis wrong
There is a serious extra risk in treating a growth yourself: you may be wrong about what it is. A growth you assume is a harmless skin tag could be something else that needs medical assessment, and burning or cutting it at home can delay proper diagnosis and care.
When to see a doctor promptly
See a doctor or dermatologist promptly about any growth that is new, changing, dark, bleeding or painful, or that looks different from your other skin tags. It is always better to have an unusual growth examined than to try to remove it yourself.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personal advice.