Skin tags often cannot be prevented. You may be able to lower your risk by losing weight. This will reduce skin folds where skin tags tend to form.
Tips for avoiding skin tags
While we can't guarantee that you won't get more skin tags in the future, losing weight and reducing the number of skin folds on your body is the best way to reduce your risk.
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.
Obesity is considered as other risk factors for the development of skin tag, the number of skin tag have been reported correlate with weight and obesity, 5 but until now there is still a difference of opinion regarding the correlation between the occurrences of skin tag with weight.
Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of skin tags, as obesity is a known risk factor. To prevent friction, especially in areas prone to skin tags, opt for loose-fitting clothing and be mindful of accessories that may cause rubbing or irritation.
Cauterization: This involves burning off the skin tag. Most tags drop away after a couple of treatments. Cryotherapy: This involves applying liquid nitrogen to freeze off the tag. Usually, one or two treatments are sufficient.
Often used in skin care, you can dab a bit of vitamin E on the skin tag and the surrounding area. Sometimes, this can cause the skin tag to fall off after several days.
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.
As skin tags have blood vessels, you will want to avoid using nail clippers, scissors or any other methods that could cause uncontrollable bleeding. Please do not try to take the treatment of skin tags by excision into your own hands.
Sometimes skin tags fall off on their own as they get pulled and irritated. When this happens, they dry out, which makes them fall off. If skin tags bother you, your doctor can remove them by: Cutting them off.
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).
Do not try to remove a skin tag yourself unless a GP recommends it. Risks include infection, bleeding and scarring.
Are Skin Tags a Sign of Diabetes? While skin tags can appear without any specific cause, they tend to occur more often in people with diabetes and insulin resistance, when muscle, fat, and liver cells don't respond well to insulin and you build up a tolerance to it.
It could take many weeks to see any signs of improvement — and tea tree oil can lead to skin irritation. “Tea tree oil won't hurt the skin, but I doubt it would be effective in removing skin tags,” says Dr. Ng. “Some people may develop an allergic contact dermatitis to tea tree oil.”
Skin tag removal can be accomplished via a number of different methods. One commonly used method is cryotherapy, in which a physician, usually a dermatologist, freezes off the skin tag using liquid nitrogen. Another option is electrocautery, in which an electric probe or needle is used to burn off the skin tag.
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.
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.
Skin tags affect both males and females, but they happen more often during pregnancy, in people who have obesity, and in people with diabetes. They have been associated with hyperinsulinemia, when there is too much insulin circulating in the blood.
After washing the area affected by skin tags thoroughly, carefully spread some tea tree oil on the swollen parts, using a cotton swab. Cover it with a clean cloth and leave it on overnight. The intrinsic antibacterial and antifungal properties of tea tree oil help to promptly remove skin tags.
Skin tags with long, narrow stalks can become twisted, cutting off the blood supply and abruptly turning the tag dark brown or black. If a skin tag appears that it is changing or becomes painful, it should be examined by a dermatologist to exclude other, potentially harmful diagnoses.