Understanding Skin Tags: Causes and Removal Options

Have you discovered a skin tag on your body and wondered what it is, why its there and how to get rid of it?

What is a skin tag?

Well fear not, skin tags (medically known as acrochordons) are benign growths of skin that can be skin coloured and sometimes slightly darker or pinker in colour. They can hang off on what could be described as a stalk or can be attached firmly to the body. They come in many different shapes and sizes, and are soft to the touch. They do not harm you and can be left alone.

Why do skin tags form?

The reason for this benign growth is friction on loose skin. When skin rubs against skin (think folds of skin like armpits), against clothing (think underwear) and even jewellery (think necklaces against a neck). We tend to get more skin tags as we age as our skin loses laxity and then rubs more frequently. Skin tags can appear anywhere on the body including eyelids but they are most commonly found on the neck, armpits and groin. If you are overweight, pregnant, runs in the family or have a metabolic disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol you can be more prone to forming skin tags.

For some people, skin tags do not bother them - for others they may be in a very visible place, they may keep catching them, which can be painful, messy and irritating. As they do not affect your health, skin tags cannot be removed on the NHS. They are considered a cosmetic treatment.

How to get rid of a skin tag

There are old wives tales on the internet on how to remove skin tags at home, or you may feel inclined to just cut it off - please don't! If you cut a skin tag, they will bleed - a lot. You could end up with a scar and depending if you damage the surrounding tissue, could look worse than the original skin tag.

At Wildflowers Beauty, we can remove your skin tags using a plasma pen. The plasma pen works through emitting heat via the needle (current from the charge in the pen), which then uses the oxygen around the needle to create a gas. This then creates an arc, which uses your plasma (plasma is part of your blood) to penetrate your skin. The plasma pen cauterises the skin tag and as we move the device across the tag, it comes away from the body. The tag will then come off and we will dispose of this.

The procedure is done quickly and safely. Beauty therapists/Aesthetic practitioners need to have at least a level 3 standard of training, to undertake plasma pen training. The training includes anatomy, health and safety, theory as well as practical assessment. The training must be provided by a training company that is registered and approved. A certificate is issued upon passing the course, which then allows the trained person to get insurance and then they will need to meet the environmental standards of their county/borough to practice.

What to expect

A consultation appointment is first required to examine the skin tag and fill out a health questionnaire form. On the day of the appointment, please arrive freshly showered/bathed as you will not want to get the area wet for the next 24 hours. The area will be cleaned, the pen will be set up and when ready the procedure will begin. You may feel a slight stinging sensation and as the plasma pen cauterises the tag, you may smell slight burning - this is normal. Once the tag is removed, the area is cleansed and a plaster may be placed over to cover the area, for the next hour or so. Dry healing for skin tags is best, which is why we ask you to shower/bathe before hand. Do not sunbathe, sauna, gym, sports - anything that will cause friction or sweat to enter the wound site, do not add lotions or spray perfumes etc onto the area. Leave the area completely dry for the next 24 hours. The wound will develop a scab and let this take its natural course of healing - treat it as a wound and please do not pick the scabs, let it heal fully. Once healed the area will be flat and there maybe a small mark depending on size etc but this will be discussed in the consultation.

If you have a skin tag and you would like it removed - or if you have a skin lesion you think might be a skin tag but you're unsure - let's talk - please don't be embarrassed - I've seen lots of bodies and I will be professional at all times. Give me a call or send a message and I'll do my best to help.