Skin tags can pop up anywhere, at any time, unexpectedly. Though they are technically harmless, these unsightly growths can make a person feel self-conscious and can attract unwanted attention. Our team of New York and New Jersey dermatologists are here to help you remove these pesky skin tags once and for all.
What Are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are those elevated balls of extra skin that are small and soft and that most commonly form on a patient’s armpits, eyelids, neck, or beneath the breasts. They can be present at birth, or can pop up at any time during adulthood, but are often associated with middle-aged and overweight adults.
A person can have anywhere from one to a hundred growths at any time. The tags can be removed by a dermatologist if they are irritating, uncomfortable, or simply causing a cosmetic concern. Often, there is no medical need to get rid of the growths. However, many patients elect to have a minor procedure to remove them.
How to Get Rid of Skin Tags
The two most common ways that skin tags are removed are through freezing or through burning and snipping. Similar to the technique involved with removing a wart, freezing a skin tag hardens the area through the use of cold liquid nitrogen. The tags can also be easily removed through burning the base and cutting it off with a scalpel or surgical scissors. In this case, your doctor will administer local anesthesia to numb the area and avoid any pain or discomfort.
There is no evidence that shows that removing a skin tag is in any way correlated with the appearance of a second tag. And, although there is virtually no risk associated with getting rid of skin tags, we do not recommended taking matters into your own hands or using any at-home methods to remove them. Instead, we encourage you to visit a licensed dermatologist, in person, at his or her office. A dermatologist can offer professional guidance and expertise, and can ensure that the skin tag removal is safe and sanitary.
Our Board-Certified Dermatologists
With over twenty locations between New York and New Jersey, our board-certified dermatologists can remove your unwanted skin growths in just a single visit. And the best part? There is almost no downtime following the procedure, so you won’t have to put your life on hold or set aside any time for recovery. Just call any of our offices today or request an appointment online, and you will be one step closer to saying goodbye to those skin tags for good.