Skin Tag Removal - You Have Choices

When it comes to skin tag removal, you have several choices. Generally, a dermatologist, or even primary care physician, can remove a skin tag right in his office. It's not all that complicated, but typically these procedures are not covered by your health insurance plan, as they are considered cosmetic procedures. That is why increasing numbers of people are evaluating ways to remove skin tags themselves.

We'll take a look at the two approaches: clinical and do-it-yourself. It would help, though, to understand a few basics moving forward. An acrochordon, or skin tag, is just a small growth, or hanging bit of extra skin. These growths are typically harmless.

More specifically, skin tags are made up of fat cells, nerve cells, fibers and ducts enclosed within skin. They may appear to be attached to one's body by a tiny, thin stalk. They can differ greatly in shape and tend to be any shadow of flesh colors. Some can be as large as grapes.

Infants are born free of skin tags, which can develop over time, and can be found somewhere on the bodies of more than half of all people at some time or other. They have a propensity to develop mostly around middle age.

Removing skin tags will not lead to more skin tags, but understand that some people are more prone to developing them whether you remove one or not.

If you have an atypically shaped or large growth of any kind on your skin, you should let your doctor examine it. He will be able to tell you whether it should be biopsied to rule out a malignancy. Cancer and skin tags don't normally go toether, but you should always be aware of what is happening inside and outside your body and skin.

Because they tend to be benign, it should be understood that the appearance of most skin tags in no way indicates the presence of disease or illness. That is little consolation for someone who experiences discomfort or pain because of where the skin tag is located. Areas that are shaved regularly can be problemmatic, as can areas where there is constant friction.

For skin tags in extremely delicate areas, such as anywhere around the eyes, seeing an ophthalmologist might be a good idea. A eye professional might be able to ensure the procedure causes no harm to your eye.

Skin tags also tend to be unsightly and can detract from one's appearance and personal comfort. In any of these cases, a person may want to to know what his or her choices are for skin tag removal.

For routine cases, your dermatologist or family doctor would perform one of the following procedures right in their office:

• Cyrotherapy is a procedure wherein the skin tag is frozen using liquid nitrogen. Moles and warts can also be removed using this method. Drawbacks are that there could be temporary skin discoloration, and the treatment may need to be repeated to ensure the skin tag falls off.
• Cauterization uses electric currents that burn the skin tag off. A major drawback is that surrounding skin may accidentally burned.
• Excision uses a sharp instrument such as a scissors or scalpel to cut off the skin tag. Drawbacks can include pain and some bleeding.
  
  There are also home remedies that people can try. One involves tying a small piece of dental floss or thread around the skin tag stalk to strangle it. The skin tag should fall off, but this method can take several days to work. If that sounds forbidding, there are other ways to remove skin tags safely and easily
  
  When you consider removing skin tags will probably not be covered by your medical insurance plan, you may want to investigate inexpensive natural home remedies instead. Find more information on do-it-yourself removal choices for skin tags, warts, and moles.