A guide to skin tags: Trust your skin to the best; not to OTC products or DIY tips for their removal
Skin tags are not a cause for concern. However, they can be worrisome if our patients at Bluebonnet Dermatology feel these benign growths detract from their otherwise smooth, unblemished, and healthy skin. Furthermore, tags can grow and even occur in clusters. This can cause discomfort, especially if the tags are in “functionally important” sites that support fluid movement and mobility, such as at the bends of the limbs or on the eyelids. Additionally, skin tags that rub against fabrics or jewelry can irritate and are associated with complications like persistent sores and infection.
Expert removal at our office in McKinney, Texas, maybe in your future to address these and other challenges to the cosmetics, health, and function of the skin caused by skin tags.
What are skin tags ?
The medical term for skin tags is “acrochordons.” Since they develop in the top layers of the skin, they are generally considered harmless (non-cancerous or benign). They are characterized by a soft protrusion of skin.
Why do I have skin tags ?
When we produce extra skin cells on the outermost layers of the skin, these tags can be the result. They tend to arise in those areas where friction occurs, such as the skin folds where tissues may rub or chafe. Common sites include underneath the breasts, the eyelids, groin, neck creases, underarms, sides, belly, and back.
Can they go away on their own ?
Sometimes. Smaller tags may be rubbed away or fall off without intervention. However, in the vast majority of cases, professional removal is needed. Again, whether you wish to have skin tags removed or not depends on how much they bother you. If they are in cosmetic areas of the face, you may want to have them gone for aesthetic purposes. Likewise, big tags on the eyelids and other functionally significant areas may require removal, too, to restore your vision and comfortable and fluid movement.
How do you remove skin tags ?
Our board-certified specialist, Dr. Huayi Zhang, may select from many different techniques and methods to remove these and other lesions or growths. They include the application of either cold or hot temperatures to freeze or burn off the tag with cryotherapy or cauterization (ED&C – electrodessication and curettage), respectively. Dr. Zhang may even use special medical scissors to excise or remove the tag. The specific approach recommended for you depends on factors that are not limited to the size of the tag. Some smallish tags can be removed with anesthesia for numbing and comfort. In contrast, many or bigger growths may call for a topical cream or injection to numb the treatment site before removal.
Why should I have Bluebonnet Dermatology remove my skin tags ?
It is generally advised to avoid OTC products or do-it-yourself removal techniques. Your skin’s function, health, and beauty are far too important to trust to potentially questionable products and online tips. Instead, protect your skin and reveal its healthy best by partnering with our specialty center in McKinney, TX—call (469) 663-5777 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Zhang today.
