The skin plays a significant role in our body. It is the largest single organ in the body. It helps to protect the body from various elements. Since the skin is often exposed, it is prone to different skin conditions. Among them is a skin tag. Skin tags are skin conditions that appear on the skin as body marks. They are not cancerous but can make you uncomfortable enough to require skin tag treatments. They often appear as skin growths and usually target skin folds in the breasts, eyelids, armpits, neck, and groin area. What usually forms these growths are collagen fibers that have to loosen in thicker areas of the skin.
Skin tags are common in many areas of the country, affecting half of the population. They often appear and grow in overweight people, with diabetes, and older adults. Although skin tags are not harmful, they tend to get snagged by clothing and jewelry, making the experience quite painful. The good news is that you can quickly get rid of skin tags if they are bothersome by removing them. In this post, we shall show you the different skin tag treatments available for removing skin tags. They include surgical procedures, home remedies, and over-the-counter medication.
Skin tag removal through surgery
You don’t need to visit your doctor or get treatment for skin tags. However, if they make you uncomfortable, you may need to seek medical attention to have them removed. Skin tag removal is an outpatient procedure that works by cutting out the skin tag. Before the procedure is performed, the doctor will start by numbing the affected area of the skin. The size of the liaison will determine the type of treatment the doctor will use to remove it. These procedures include:
- Cauterization
These types of skin tag treatments work by heating the skin rag. This is often done to remove small skin tags that have not grown so much.
- Cryosurgery
This type of skin tag removal utilizes chemicals to remove lesions. The doctor sprays small amounts of nitrogen over the skin tag. This process is meant to freeze off the skin tag. A frozen skin tag is unlikely to grow back again.
- Electrocautery
Another technique used to remove skin tags from the skin is called electrocautery. This method of skin removal works by burning the skin tag with an electric current.
- Ligation
These types of skin tag treatments refer to skin removal methods that cut out the blood supply to the skin tag. The doctor will use a surgical thread to carry out this procedure.
- Surgery
This is a simple procedure that works by cutting the skin tag. The doctor will snip off the base of the lesion using surgical scissors. If the skin tag is a bit big or an open area on the body, the doctor will need to stitch up and bandage the treatment area.
Home remedies for removing skin tags
There are several products and medications that you can use to clear your skin tag. It is also possible to remove a skin tag at home with simple skin tag treatments. The aim is to dry the skin tag to shrink and fall out. However, home remedies for skin tag removal are slower. To avoid bleeding and infections, you must also be careful when removing skin tags.
- Tea tree oil
You can utilize tea tree oil as a home remedy to remove troublesome skin tags. What makes tea tree oil in removing skin tags is that it contains antifungal and antiviral properties. Since you will use it on your skin, you will need to cut it with carrier oil to make it safe.
You first need to wash the treatment area when using tea tree oil. Once you have done that, gently massage the oil over the skin using a cotton swab or a Q-tip. Take the soaked bandage and place it in the treatment area overnight. To ensure that the skin tag doesn’t come back again, you must repeat these treatments every night until the skin tag dries up and falls.
- Banana peel
If you have a skin tag that you feel is cramping up your beauty, you can quickly get rid of it using a banana peel. A banana peel is used to dry out a skin tag. Banana peels contain antioxidant properties, making them effective home remedies for removing skin tags.
Conclusion
Skin tags are not cancerous growths. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about them when it starts growing. Luckily, several ways are available for you to remove troublesome skin tags. The most effective method for removing skin tags is surgery. Once you have had skin tag removal through surgery, you can rest assured that it will never grow again. Home skin tag treatments like tea tree or banana peels work well. However, compared to surgery, they work very slowly.