What should you know about floss to remove skin tags?

A skin tag is a soft benign growth that often develops in a fold or another area exposed to rubbing. Floss tied around its base may restrict blood flow, but you cannot control the depth of injury or know whether the growth is actually a skin tag. A wart, mole, or other lesion may look similar.

Home removal can lead to bleeding, infection, irritation, and a noticeable scar. It may also make later examination harder. The risk is greater around the eyelids, genitals, or other sensitive areas, and for people with poor wound healing or conditions affecting immunity.

Do not tie, cut, freeze, or burn the growth. Keep it dry and reduce rubbing with loose clothing while arranging an assessment. A clinician can identify the lesion and discuss removal if it is catching, inflamed, bleeding after friction, or unwanted cosmetically.

Possible clinical approaches include cryotherapy, electrosurgery, or a small procedure selected after looking at the lesion. Do not use leftover medicines or household acids on it. Once treated, follow the wound-care advice and watch for increasing redness or discharge.

Arrange prompt review for a growth that changes shape or colour, bleeds without contact, becomes persistently painful, or develops a sore that does not heal. Seek urgent help for uncontrolled bleeding, severe swelling, fever, or redness spreading away from the area.

Ask how the lesion was identified, whether removal is necessary, which method suits its location, what healing usually involves, and how to reduce rubbing while it heals.