What Are Skin Tags And How To Effectively Get Rid Of Them | grazia.co.in

Are you worried about fleshy skin growths that may appear anywhere on your body? Do you find it unsightly or bothersome while dressing or wearing ornaments? No worries, everything can be sorted out safely and effectively with a simple cosmetic procedure. Removing skin tags is one of them. If the aforesaid points are your causes of concern, then you should consult your cosmetic surgeon/dermatologist. Many times we notice people not being aware of these skin issues which could later lead to low self-confidence. Although it is harmless and doesn’t require medical attention, it still needs to be treated when cosmetic concerns are in question.

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are small, benign skin protrusions that can appear anywhere on your body. They are painless, noncancerous, soft outgrowths from the skin. It is common in both men and women. Skin tags are mostly found in areas of friction and where your skin folds are prominent, i.e armpits, groin, thighs, eyelids, neck, and under breast area. It is medically known as acrochordons. It is made of collagen fibers, nerve cells, fat cells, and a layer of skin.

How To Identify Skin Tags?

-They are usually skin-colored, hanging from the skin surface with a stalk.
-They are often flat and bumpy too, but generally grow out of the skin.
-Skin tags often tend to grow in skin folds.
-Skin tags are more common with age, obesity, and pregnancy.

No one knows exactly why skin tags appear and there are no proven ways to prevent them, but it requires cosmetic attention when they grow in numbers and become unsightly.

What Not To Do For Removing The Skin Tags? (Medically prohibited practice)

Most skin tags are attached to your body for a lifetime. Thus, it is a good idea to consult your dermatologist/cosmetic surgeon if it hurts or bothers you. Many people try to scrub it off themselves by applying tea tree oil, apple cider oil, lemon juice, or trying options of home chemical peels. But, one must keep this fact in mind that these home remedies are without medical evidence, and doing so can increase the chances of bleeding, infection, and skin burns. Sometimes moles or warts can resemble skin tags which may be cancerous and having an expert diagnosis is mandatory to avoid risks.

Don’t do:

-Home remedies /self-rubs.
-Chemical peels at home.
-Application of tea tree oil, apple cider oil, and lemon juice.
-Removing skin tags at home using scissors or nail clippers.
-Home Freezing kits - these require multiple applications and may cause skin burns if not used judiciously.

Medically Proven Skin Tag Removal Options Are As Follows:

1.Cryotherapy:
It is done by freezing the skin tags with liquid nitrogen. It usually takes about 10 days to fall off.

2.Snipping/Surgical Removal:
Larger skin tags that have a stalk or stem, medically termed as pedunculated skin tags require surgical scissors/or a sterile surgical scalpel to remove them. The cosmetic surgeon may use local anesthesia before the procedure, for complete numbness while removing large or multiple skin tags.

3.Electrocautery:
It is done by burning the skin tags with a high-frequency electrical probe/needle. It is also called the cauterization process that simultaneously removes the tags and seals the wound to prevent infection and bleeding.
In a nutshell, we can say that removing skin tags at home is not a safe and healthy idea as it may cause complications or discomfort. Schedule the consultation with your cosmetic surgeon and let the expert handle the job for best results.

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