If pesky skin tags are getting caught in your jewelry or clothing, it may be time to consider removing them.
While skin tags removal products are available right off the pharmacy shelf or by using home remedies, it’s always best to let an experienced professional, like dermatologist Lisa Hitchins, MD, take care of uncomfortable skin tags.
Why you have skin tags
Skin tags are small growths that appear as an extra flap of skin. While skin tags can appear anywhere on your body, the benign growths typically grow on areas where there’s frequent friction, such as your neck, groin, underarms, and under the breasts. You can also develop skin tags on your eyelids and around your face.
Skin tags can start out as small as the head of a pin but can grow as large as five centimeters. They are most common in people who have a family history of skin tags and in women.
Underlying conditions that can also contribute to skin tags include:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Crohn’s disease
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
During pregnancy, hormonal changes you experience can also increase your risk factors for skin tags.
When to seek treatment for skin tags
While skin tags aren’t harmful to your health, they may affect how you feel about your appearance. Many skin tags are the same color as the rest of your skin, but some can turn dark and become more noticeable, especially on your face.
You may also experience pinching and discomfort when skin tags rub against your clothing or get tangled up in your necklace. Some people with skin tags in their underarms or near their genitals irritate the tags while shaving and may even cut one off.
Dr. Hitchins offers in-office treatments to safely remove skin tags without damaging the surrounding skin.
Professional options for removing skin tags
There are a number of options available for removing skin tags anywhere on your body at Dermatology Center of Northwest Houston. Dr. Hitchins recommends these services over removing skin tags yourself at home for your own safety.
If not removed properly, skin tags can cause bleeding and increase your risk for a skin infection. The treatment also gives Dr. Hitchins the opportunity to assess the skin tag and ensure nothing looks suspicious. She offers:
Non surgical skin tag removal
Depending on the location of your skin tag, you may be a candidate for cryotherapy treatment that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off the excess skin or an electrical cautery procedure to burn it off.
Surgical skin tag removal
Dr. Hitchins can also perform a minor, in-office surgery to remove the skin tag. She offers a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
You can address just one skin tag or multiple skin tags at a time. Dr. Hitchins protects your skin through the procedure to prevent infection and scarring.
If you’re ready to get rid of bothersome skin tags for good, schedule a skin tag removal consultation by calling the office of Dermatology Center of Northwest Houston or by requesting an appointment with Dr. Hitchins online today.