You’re in the shower, or maybe just catching a glimpse in the mirror, and you feel it. That tiny, fleshy nub hanging off your neck or tucked under your arm. It’s a skin tag. Honestly, they’re annoying. They snag on necklaces, get irritated by bra straps, and just look... there. Most of us immediately want to know how to get rid of a skin tag the second we notice it, but the internet is full of some truly questionable—and painful—advice.
Skin tags, or acrochordons if you want to be fancy, are incredibly common. About half of all adults will deal with them at some point. They aren't cancerous. They aren't contagious. They're basically just benign overgrowths of skin cells and collagen bundled up with some tiny blood vessels. But knowing they're harmless doesn't mean you want them sticking around forever.
Let’s get one thing straight: do not just grab a pair of kitchen scissors. Seriously.
People do it. They think it's just a bit of dead skin. It's not. These things have a blood supply. If you snip one off at home without knowing what you’re doing, you’re looking at a surprisingly large amount of blood and a high risk of infection.
The Science of Why They Show Up Anyway
Skin tags usually pop up where skin rubs against skin or clothing. Think armpits, eyelids, the groin, or the base of the neck. Friction is the big culprit here. This is why you often see them more frequently in people who are overweight or older; there’s simply more skin-on-skin contact over time.
There’s also a weird connection to insulin. Research, including studies cited by the British Journal of Dermatology, suggests that people with insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes are more prone to developing them. If you suddenly sprout a dozen tags out of nowhere, it might actually be your body’s way of saying your blood sugar levels are wonky. It’s a metabolic red flag disguised as a cosmetic nuisance.
Pregnancy is another trigger. All those hormonal shifts and growth factors flying around the body can lead to a sudden "bloom" of tags. The good news? Sometimes those pregnancy-related ones just shrink and vanish on their own once the baby arrives and hormones level out.
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How to Get Rid of a Skin Tag the Professional Way
If you want it gone fast and you want it gone safely, the dermatologist is your best bet. It’s a "one and done" situation. They have a few tools in the kit.
Cryotherapy is a big one. They use liquid nitrogen to freeze the tag. It’s like a super-targeted blast of cold that kills the cells. The tag turns black, shrivels up, and falls off over the next week or two. It stings for a second, but it’s effective.
Then there’s cauterization. This sounds intense because it involves an electric current to burn the tag off. In reality, it’s very controlled. The heat seals the blood vessels as it works, so there’s basically no bleeding. It’s great for larger tags that might bleed a lot if they were just cut.
Finally, there’s surgical excision. This is just a clinical way of saying they snip it off with sterile surgical scissors or a scalpel. Unlike your kitchen scissors, these are sharp, sterile, and the doctor can use a local anesthetic so you don't feel a thing. Plus, they can send the tissue to a lab if anything looks suspicious.
The OTC Route: Do Those Kits Actually Work?
Walk into any CVS or Walgreens and you’ll see boxes promising to remove skin tags at home. Most of these use "ligation" or "freezing."
Ligation kits usually involve those tiny little rubber bands. You use a plastic applicator to slip a microscopic band over the base of the tag. It cuts off the blood supply. No blood, no tag. Eventually, it dies and drops off. It works, but it can be fiddly to get the band on right, especially if the tag is in a weird spot like your back.
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The home freezing kits are basically weaker versions of what a doctor uses. They use dimethyl ether and propane instead of liquid nitrogen. They’re "okay" for small tags, but they often require multiple applications and can irritate the healthy skin around the tag if you aren't careful.
What About the "Natural" Remedies?
You've probably seen the Pinterest pins. Tea tree oil. Apple cider vinegar. Oregano oil.
Does tea tree oil work? Maybe. It has some antifungal and antiviral properties, and some people swear that applying it three times a day for weeks eventually dries the tag out. But "weeks" is the keyword. It’s slow. And tea tree oil is potent; it can cause a nasty contact dermatitis rash if your skin is sensitive.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is another favorite. The idea is that the acidity breaks down the tissue. Honestly, it’s a bit of a gamble. You’re essentially applying a mild acid to your skin repeatedly. If you have a tag on your eyelid, please, for the love of everything, keep the vinegar away from it. Chemical burns on the eyelid are a nightmare you don't want.
When You Absolutely Must See a Doctor
Most skin tags are just skin tags. But sometimes, things that look like tags are actually something else.
If a "tag" is multi-colored, bleeding on its own, growing rapidly, or has a weird, jagged border, it might not be a skin tag. It could be a mole or, in rare cases, a type of skin cancer like basal cell carcinoma. Dermatologists are trained to spot the difference. If you have any doubt at all, don't try to DIY it.
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Also, if the tag is on your eyelid or very close to your eye, don't touch it. The skin there is incredibly thin and heals differently than the skin on your armpit. One wrong move and you’re dealing with potential scarring or eye irritation that’s way worse than a tiny bump.
The Reality of Regrowth
Here is the annoying truth: getting rid of a skin tag doesn't mean another won't grow back in the exact same spot. Or right next to it.
Removal is a permanent fix for that specific tag, but it doesn't "cure" your body's tendency to make them. If the friction is still there—like if your thighs rub together when you walk or your favorite necklace chain is always chafing your neck—new ones will likely appear.
Practical Next Steps for Removal
If you’re ready to clear your skin, follow this sequence to avoid scarring or a trip to the ER:
- Audit the area. Look at the tag. Is it small, flesh-colored, and on a narrow "stalk"? If yes, it's likely a standard skin tag. Is it near your eye or groin? If yes, stop. See a pro.
- Check your health. If you’re seeing a sudden explosion of new tags, book a physical. Ask for an A1c blood test to check your average blood sugar levels. Addressing the internal cause can stop new ones from forming.
- Try a ligation kit first. If you’re determined to do it at home, the "band" method is generally safer and less messy than chemical liquids or DIY snipping. Look for brands like TagBand or similar reputable products.
- Keep it clean. If a tag does fall off (whether naturally or through a kit), treat the area like a minor cut. Use a dab of petroleum jelly and a Band-Aid to keep it moist while it heals. This prevents scabbing that can lead to a permanent mark.
- Consult a dermatologist for "the big ones." Anything larger than a grain of rice is going to have a significant blood vessel. Professional removal is fast, virtually painless with local numbing, and leaves the cleanest result.
Taking care of your skin isn't just about looks. It's about knowing when to DIY and when to let a professional handle it. Skin tags are a minor part of life for most of us, but handling them correctly keeps a small annoyance from becoming a legitimate medical problem.