How to get rid of skin tags

A skin tag, also called an acrochordon, is a soft piece of skin that may hang from a narrow stalk or sit broadly against the skin. It commonly develops where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarms, eyelids, or groin. A typical tag is soft and matches the surrounding skin, although irritation can make it sore or darker.

Do not cut, tie off, burn, or apply unprescribed chemicals to a growth at home. These methods can cause bleeding, infection, burns, or a scar, and may delay diagnosis of a different lesion. A clinician may freeze a tag with cryotherapy, use electrosurgery to treat its tissue, or remove it with a sterile minor procedure. The choice depends on its size, attachment, location, and appearance.

Book an assessment if a growth is new, changing, painful, bleeding, crusted, very dark, or repeatedly catching on clothing. Prompt review is also sensible when several lesions appear quickly or when the diagnosis is uncertain. A clinician can examine the lesion before discussing removal and explain wound care afterward.

Ask how confident the diagnosis is, which method fits the location, what healing usually involves, and how to protect the area from rubbing while it settles.