What should you know about cutting off skin tag?

A skin tag is usually a soft, flesh-coloured growth attached to the skin by a narrow base. It commonly appears where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarm, eyelid, or groin. It may snag, twist, become irritated, or bleed after friction. However, not every small growth is a skin tag. A changing mole, wart, cyst, or other lesion can look different and needs a proper examination. Do not rely on a photograph or a product label to identify it. Tell a clinician if it has changed in colour, shape, size, or surface, or if it bleeds without rubbing.

Avoid cutting, tying, burning, or applying harsh chemicals at home. These methods can injure nearby skin and make a later examination harder. A clinician can confirm whether removal is appropriate and choose a method based on the location and base of the growth. Options may include [Skin Tag Removal](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-tag-removal/), [Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal)](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/cryotherapy-lesion-removal/), or [Electrosurgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/electrosurgery/). Ask about local anaesthetic, wound care, expected crusting, and whether the removed tissue should be examined. If the tag is only a cosmetic concern and is not changing, observation is also reasonable.

Arrange a medical review for a growth that is new, rapidly changing, painful, repeatedly bleeding, ulcerated, very dark, or different from your other spots. Seek prompt help for bleeding that does not settle with firm pressure, spreading redness, pus, fever, or worsening pain after an attempted removal. An eyelid, genital, or repeatedly traumatised lesion deserves extra care because the surrounding skin is delicate. Until it is assessed, protect it from rubbing and avoid home removal kits.

Does this look like a skin tag? Which removal method suits its location and size? Will the area need local anaesthetic? Should the tissue be sent for examination? How should I clean the site, and which changes after removal should prompt a call?