You’re standing in front of the bathroom mirror, tilting your neck just right, and there it is. Again. That tiny, annoying flap of skin that catches on your necklace or rubs against your collar until it’s raw. It’s a skin tag. Most of us have them, and honestly, the urge to just grab a pair of nail scissors and "take care of it" is real. But before you do something you’ll regret—like ending up in the ER with a bleed that won't stop—you should probably hear the American Academy of Dermatology skin tag removal advice. They’ve seen it all. The botched home jobs, the infections, and the "miracle" creams that basically just give you a chemical burn.
Skin tags, or acrochordons if you want to be fancy, are incredibly common. We're talking about roughly half of all adults at some point in their lives. They love friction. That’s why you find them in the "hot zones": armpits, neck, groin, and under the breasts. While they’re almost always harmless, they are a nuisance. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) is pretty clear on one thing right out of the gate: while you can remove them, how you do it matters more than you think.
Why You Shouldn't Be Your Own Bathroom Surgeon
It looks easy. A quick snip, right? Wrong.
One of the biggest pieces of American Academy of Dermatology skin tag removal advice is to avoid the DIY route. You might think your bathroom is clean, but it isn't "sterile field" clean. When you cut into skin, even a tiny bit, you’re inviting bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus to the party. Plus, skin tags have a surprisingly robust blood supply. People are often shocked at how much a tiny flap of skin can bleed. We aren't talking a papercut; we're talking "ruining your favorite shirt and panicking" levels of blood.
Dermatologists like Dr. Bruce Brod have pointed out that people often mistake more serious things for skin tags. This is the scary part. What you think is a harmless tag could actually be a wart, a mole, or in some cases, a skin cancer like basal cell carcinoma or even melanoma. If you "remove" a skin cancer at home, you’re leaving the roots behind to grow and spread, and you've just destroyed the evidence that could have saved your life.
The Danger of Home Kits and "Natural" Remedies
Go to any drugstore or scroll through TikTok, and you'll see a million "hacks." There are those little rubber band kits (ligation) that supposedly choke the tag off. Then there are the "natural" acids like tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar.
👉 See also: My eye keeps twitching for days: When to ignore it and when to actually worry
The AAD isn't a fan.
Ligation kits can be finicky. If the band isn't tight enough, it just causes inflammation. If it’s too tight or placed wrong, it can cause localized tissue death (necrosis) in a way that leads to a nasty infection. And those "removal creams"? They often contain high concentrations of salicylic acid or other caustic agents. They don't just "target" the tag; they eat away at the healthy skin around it, often leaving a scar that looks way worse than the tag ever did.
How the Pros Actually Do It
When you go to a board-certified dermatologist, they have a literal toolkit of ways to make these things disappear in seconds. And because they’re experts, they can numb the area first. You don't have to white-knuckle it.
- Cryosurgery: This is the most popular. They use liquid nitrogen to freeze the tag. It's quick. It stings for a second, then the tag turns black and falls off over the next week or two.
- Electrosurgery: They use a tiny needle with an electric current to cauterize the tag. The beauty of this is that it seals the blood vessels as it goes. No bleeding.
- Snip Excision: No, they don't use nail clippers. They use sterile surgical shears or a scalpel. They usually numb the base, snip it, and it’s gone instantly.
- Ligation: Sometimes, for larger tags, a doctor will use professional-grade surgical thread to tie off the blood supply.
The Link Between Skin Tags and Your Overall Health
Here is something most people don't realize: skin tags aren't always just random.
The American Academy of Dermatology skin tag removal advice often includes a subtle hint to look at the bigger picture. If you suddenly start sprouting dozens of tags, it might be your body's way of waving a red flag. There is a well-documented link between frequent skin tags and insulin resistance. When your insulin levels are high, it can stimulate the growth of skin cells.
✨ Don't miss: Ingestion of hydrogen peroxide: Why a common household hack is actually dangerous
If you're seeing a lot of tags along with "velvety" dark patches of skin (called acanthosis nigricans) on your neck or armpits, it’s time to see a primary care doctor. You might be pre-diabetic. Skin tags are also more common during pregnancy due to hormonal shifts and increased friction as the body changes.
Managing the "Aftermath"
Once a tag is professionally removed, the care is pretty simple. Usually, it's just a bit of petroleum jelly and a bandage. Unlike the DIY "treatments" that leave huge scabs, professional removal rarely leaves a scar.
But will they grow back?
This is the million-dollar question. Technically, no—that specific tag won't grow back. But the reasons you got it (genetics, friction, weight, or hormones) are still there. So, you might get a new one right next to the old spot. It’s frustrating, but it’s just how skin works.
When Removal Is Actually Necessary
Most of the time, removal is purely cosmetic. Insurance companies know this, which is why they often refuse to pay for it unless the tag is "symptomatic."
🔗 Read more: Why the EMS 20/20 Podcast is the Best Training You’re Not Getting in School
What does "symptomatic" mean in the eyes of a doctor? It means the tag is bleeding, it's caught in your zipper (ouch), it's constantly getting snagged on jewelry, or it's become painful and inflamed. If a tag is caught on a bra strap every single day and bleeding, that's no longer just a cosmetic issue. That's a medical nuisance.
If you have a tag on your eyelid, do NOT mess with it. This is a huge point in the American Academy of Dermatology skin tag removal advice. The skin on the eyelid is the thinnest on the body. You can cause permanent damage to your eye or tear the delicate skin. An ophthalmologist or a dermatologist needs to handle anything near the eyes.
Common Misconceptions to Toss Out
- "Cutting them makes more grow back." This is a total myth. It’s like the "shaving makes hair thicker" thing. It feels true because you're already prone to them, but the act of cutting doesn't trigger more growth.
- "They're contagious." Nope. That’s warts. Warts are caused by a virus (HPV). Skin tags are just skin. You can't catch them from someone else.
- "Only overweight people get them." While weight is a factor because it creates more skin-on-skin friction, plenty of very thin people get them due to genetics.
Practical Steps for Your Skin
If you're staring at a tag right now and wondering what to do, stop reaching for the scissors.
First, take a good look at it. Is it soft? Is it flesh-colored or slightly brown? Does it wiggle easily? If it's hard, multi-colored, or seems to be growing rapidly, you need a biopsy, not just a removal.
Second, check your insurance. Call them up. Ask if they cover "destruction of benign lesions" if they are irritated. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. If they don't, ask your dermatologist for a "self-pay" rate. Often, if you have several tags, they can do a "bulk" removal for a reasonable flat fee during a regular skin check.
Third, stop the friction. If you get tags in your armpits, maybe try a different deodorant that reduces irritation. If they're on your neck, maybe skip the heavy chains for a while.
The bottom line is that skin tags are a part of being human. They're like the dings on a car door—annoying, but they don't stop the car from running. Just don't try to "fix" the ding with a sledgehammer and a prayer.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your skin: Perform a full-body scan. Note any "tags" that look different from the others—especially those that have more than one color or jagged edges.
- Book a "Skin Check": Instead of an appointment just for removal, book a full-body skin cancer screening. While you're there, ask the dermatologist to look at the tags. They can often snip them right then and there.
- Skip the Drugstore: Avoid the "Tag-Away" or "Freeze-Off" kits. They are notoriously inaccurate and often lead to localized scarring.
- Check your A1C: If you have more than 10-15 skin tags, ask your doctor for a simple blood sugar test to rule out insulin resistance.
- Keep it clean: If a tag does get snagged and bleeds, treat it like any other wound. Clean it with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly, and keep it covered until it heals. If it turns red, hot, or leaks pus, that's an infection—see a doctor immediately.