Removing skin tags at home isn't a good idea It's entirely possible to remove a skin tag at home. However, complications are possible, since many home removal methods (such as using nail clippers to cut off a skin tag) can introduce infection, cause bleeding, and may leave you with scars when it's healed.
Also, do not cut or clip off medium or large tags — doing so can cause bleeding.
Right ways to remove skin tags
You could also snip off the skin tag at the bottom using a pair of scissors that have been sterilized by boiling them or wiping them off with rubbing alcohol. Of course, you won't have the benefit of numbing cream like you would in your dermatologist's office, so prepare for some pain.
Do not try to remove a skin tag yourself unless a GP recommends it. Risks include infection, bleeding and scarring.
Here are some risks of trying to remove a skin tag at-home: Bleeding. Getting a skin infection. Scarring.
Cutting them off with scissors is not only painful, but it can also lead to uncontrolled bleeding. There is also a risk the area can become infected. A doctor or dermatologist can safely and easily remove skin tags with minimal pain and scarring.
Removing a skin tag is generally a low-risk procedure, but bleeding from the site is common.
There is no medical need to remove a skin tag. Skin tags can sometimes drop off by themselves over time. If you decide to have a skin tag removed — for example, because it is bothering you or you don't like its appearance — talk to your doctor.
You may wonder if you can cut a skin tag off at home, but that is not a good idea. The safest, most effective way to remove a skin tag is to have your healthcare provider take it off surgically, cauterize it, or freeze it (cryosurgery).
In fact, people with a lot of skin tags may need to be tested for diabetes, as the tags can sometimes be a warning sign of underlying insulin issues. Skin tags can also be a warning sign of another underlying health issue – high cholesterol.
If you have a skin tag removed, clean the area with soap and water two times a day unless your doctor gives you different instructions. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
Scholl's® Freeze Away® Skin Tag Remover instantly freezes the skin tag, destroying the tissue. This will usually cause the skin tag to fall off with as little as 1 treatment.
Don't try to cut the wart off with nail clippers or other blades. While this may seem like a logical solution, it will only address the top layer of the wart and not its roots. Trying to cut the wart off at home may cause bleeding, which will allow the wart to spread and invite further infection.
Skin tags are not always treated. The skin tag will not go away on its own, but you may not notice it or be bothered by it. You can help remove a skin tag by tying a string or dental floss around the skin tag. This will cut off the blood supply to the skin tag, and it will fall off after a few days.
Skin tags can resemble genital warts as they are often the same color as the skin or darker. They can also show signs of redness, discoloration, or irritation. However, skin tags are generally soft and attach to a fleshy stalk known as a peduncle. They are often small but can grow to 2 to 5 centimeters (cm).
There is no medical evidence that toothpaste is effective or safe to remove skin tags. If you do want to get a skin tag removed, then your best option is to book an appointment with a dermatologist and undergo safe treatment.
Is this product cleared by the FDA? Yes, Dr. Scholl's® Freeze Away® Skin Tag Remover is the first, FDA-cleared skin tag remover for at home use.
It's not recommended that you try removing skin tags without speaking to a doctor first. This is because – depending on the size of the tag – removal can cause heavy bleeding and may lead to scarring. If you want to try removing a skin tag at home, speak to your GP first.
Cutting off a skin tag with scissors yourself can lead to infection or uncontrollable bleeding, which may require a trip to the ER. (You'd be surprised at how much a large skin tag can bleed if not cauterized or frozen by a professional.) It can also hurt — a lot.
Skin tags don't grow back
However, new tags can occur in the same area if there is continued rubbing or irritation. “Weight loss and avoiding clothing or jewelry that causes chronic rubbing and irritation is helpful to prevent more skin tags from occurring,” Sorensen says.
A thrombosed or clotted skin tag may suddenly change colors, becoming purple, black and irritated when its blood supply is inadequate. Thrombosed skin tags typically may fall off on their own in 3 to 10 days and don't require additional treatment.
Your medical professional will recommend what at-home measures are needed following skin tag removal. Typically, such measures involve keeping the area clean, covered with petroleum jelly (eg, Vaseline), and bandaged until the affected area heals.
Another home-removal technique is to tie off the skin tag with a piece of string or dental floss. If you want to try this, make sure you tie the string tightly around the base of the skin tag close to your skin. That will cut off the skin tag's blood supply. (It shouldn't be painful, Massick says.