What should you know about laser treatment for skin tags?

A skin tag is a soft, often flexible growth that commonly forms where skin rubs against skin or clothing. During treatment, the clinician directs energy at the tag so it can be reduced or removed. The area may be numbed first. The choice of laser, treatment settings, and whether a laser is suitable depends on the tag's size, attachment, location, skin tone, and appearance.

A new, changing, bleeding, crusting, or unusually dark growth should be assessed before removal. A different lesion can resemble a skin tag, and removing it without an examination may delay the right diagnosis.

Tell the clinician about medicines that affect bleeding, a tendency to form raised scars, previous reactions to light-based treatment, and any active rash or infection near the tag. Arrive with clean skin and follow instructions about products applied to the area.

After treatment, keep the site clean and follow the dressing instructions. Mild redness, tenderness, swelling, or a small scab can occur while the skin repairs. Do not pick the scab, rub the area, or apply irritating products until the clinician says the surface has healed. Protect exposed treated skin from sunlight because healing skin can develop a darker or lighter mark.

Seek medical advice if pain or swelling is worsening, redness spreads beyond the treated area, the site becomes hot, pus appears, or you develop a fever. Contact the treating clinician if bleeding does not settle with gentle pressure or if the wound is not healing as expected.

Ask whether the growth has been examined closely, why laser is preferred for its location, what alternatives such as Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal), Electrosurgery, or Skin Tag Removal involve, and how to protect the area during healing.