What should you know about removing a skin tag?

A clinician can remove a confirmed skin tag by freezing, sealing, or cutting it after checking that it is a skin tag. Removal may be considered when the growth catches on clothing, bleeds after rubbing, becomes irritated, or bothers you cosmetically.

A skin tag, also called an acrochordon, is a small, soft flap or stalk of skin. It commonly appears where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin, or beneath the breasts. It is usually harmless, but a new or changing growth should be examined because warts, moles, and other lesions can look similar.

A dermatology clinician may use cryotherapy to freeze the tissue, electrosurgery to heat and seal it, or a sterile instrument to remove it. The choice depends on its size, attachment, location, and appearance. Do not tie off, cut, or burn a growth at home: this can cause bleeding, infection, scarring, or delay assessment of a different lesion. Keep the treated area clean and follow the wound-care instructions provided.

Arrange an assessment if the growth changes colour or shape, grows quickly, repeatedly bleeds, becomes painful, develops a persistent crust, or does not resemble your other skin tags. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, increasing warmth, pus, fever, or bleeding that does not settle after firm pressure.

Ask whether the lesion has the typical appearance of a skin tag, which removal method suits its location, what wound care is needed, and how to recognise infection or unexpected regrowth.