What should you know about removing a skin tag with floss?

A skin tag is a soft growth connected to the skin by a stalk, but not every stalk-like lesion is a skin tag. Floss can pinch surrounding skin, create a wound, and leave tissue difficult to assess. Tightening a thread may also cause swelling and pain without removing the entire lesion.

Leave the area undisturbed and arrange a clinical assessment if you want the growth removed. Do not combine floss with scissors, acids, wart products, or home freezing. A professional can confirm the diagnosis and discuss skin tag removal, cryotherapy, or electrosurgery according to the lesion's size, site, and attachment. Keep the area clean and avoid rubbing it while waiting.

Seek assessment if the growth is changing, darkening, bleeding, painful, or not clearly a skin tag. If you already tied it, obtain prompt advice for persistent bleeding, increasing redness, warmth, pus, worsening pain, or fever. Do not pull off tissue that is partly attached.

Ask whether the growth is a skin tag, whether removal is necessary, which method is suitable for its location, and how the area will be protected during healing. If a floss attempt has been made, describe when it happened and any bleeding, swelling, or colour change.