What is a Skin Tag?

A skin tag is a harmless tumor that looks like a piece of hanging skin. It is usually narrow where it connects to the skin and then grows to a larger ball or oval. The medical name for a skin tag is "acrochordons".

Skin tags range in size from absolutely miniscule to roughly the size of an eraser. Their color is usually the same as the skin but occasionally they may vary a bit. Although they are small tumors they are not malignant and usually are not indicative any other type of problems.

These annoying extensions of the skin can be unsightly. They are usually very soft and often painful if twisted or irritated. Middle aged people are more susceptible to skin tags and they are much more common in women than in men. However these growths are very common in so much that approximately half of the population have them in some parts of their body.

They tend to form in areas where there is a lot heat, friction and moistness. These areas are usually when the skin rubs against the skin or the skin rubs against clothing.

They most commonly occur:

• On the neck
• On the eyelids
• Under the armpits
• Under the breasts

However they can occur in a variety of other places.

Many individuals may have tried someday to remove their skin tags buy just scratching them or by trying to pull them off by their fingers. This however will only irritate the skin tag. Sometimes a skin tag after being irritated may also bleed. They may also be irritated by clothing or jewelry. This may cause some discomforts.

There are many ways that can help you getting rid of skin tags:

• Extraction - The skin tags are cut off or removed by surgical scissors of a scalpel.
• Suture - This involves tying a surgical suture around the base of the skin tag in order to cut the blood supply.
• Electro-cauterization - This uses an electrified instrument to burn the skin tags
• Laser Surgery - A laser is used to destroy the skin tag.
• Cryosurgery - Very low temperatures are used to freeze and kill the skin tags.

The above 5 methods are surgical procedures and should be performed by a qualified physician. Each method has it advantages and disadvantages and the procedures may be painful, so it is important to talk with your physician about what the procedures entail.

You can also get rid of skin tags by home treatments. These methods use simple ingredients that can be easily found at home. Some home treatments have been used for many years and have shown fast results with no discomforts.

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Remove a Skin Tag by Electro-Cauterization - What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages

You can remove a skin tag by electro-cauterization. Treating skin tags by this procedure involves the application of electricity to heat an instrument or needle. Afterwards this needle is put in contact with the skin tag in order to burn the cells of such growth.

Basically electro-cauterization involves 7 main steps:

• The area to be treated is numbed by a local anesthetic
• The areas is treated throughout
• The heated needle is put in contact with the skin tag
• The cells of growth are burned
• The physician removes the burned cells
• A specimen may be sent to the lab for further analysis
• A bandage is applied and instructions are given so it will heal adequately.

Treating skin tags by this procedure may be a bit painful. Some discomforts occur both during and after the treatment.

Healing time depends on the healing ability of individual and also on the characteristics of the growth treated.

Advantages of this skin tag cure include:

• It is a quick method
• Generally it is less expensive than other types of surgeries such as laser and cryosurgery
• Usually one session is enough. In the case of cryosurgery or laser therapy you may have to make more than one visit to your physician to treat the same growths.

Treating skin tags with electro-cauterization has the following disadvantages:

• The procedure is quite invasive
• It is painful. Discomforts may also continue for some days after the treatment.
• Healing times may be long
• It may produce some scaring

It is also important to be well informed by a qualified health practitioner if in your particular case it is adequate to remove a skin tag by this procedure. Electro-cauterization may be unsuitable for some individuals with certain medical conditions such as heart disease and other medical conditions.

If your decide to remove a skin tag by electro-cauterization, be also well informed from a professional physician about certain symptoms that may occur after the treatment since such symptoms may be a sign of infections.

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Removing Moles, Warts, and Skin Tags

Moles and warts are quite common and it’s easy to remove them. But what if you have skin tags? Can you also remove them?

Skin tags create aesthetic problems and insurance companies do not cover this procedure. If you want to eliminate these unsightly lesions, you have to spend money in your pockets. Since not everyone is able to spend a lot of money on removing the skin tags, moles or warts, here are some effective ways to get rid of them.

In the case of skin tags, some say that you can just cut or scrape them off. However, if this is done improperly, it can lead to infection. Make sure that you know what you’re doing and you need to sterilize the nail clippers or scissors first. Soak the materials in sanitizer or place them over fire. Before cutting the skin tags, prepare some bandage and cotton just in case there is bleeding.

Freezing is another method of removing skin tags, as well as warts and moles. Before, this procedure was exclusively performed by doctors but you can already find ‘freezing’ products in the market. It is already provided with instructions that you need to follow carefully. However, you can only use this option if you have small tags. The freezing products are available in kits and the kits are less costly as compared to the services given by doctors.

Another method is to cut the blood supply of the skin tags and other skin lesions. You can do this by tying a tight knot at the skin tag’s base. The string should be tied tightly. You can have someone tie the knot for you to ensure the tightness. Leave the string on for a couple of days. Since the blood supply is cut off, the skin tag will eventually fall off after a few days.

These are effective home methods for removing skin tags and even warts or moles. However, you need to be sure that the skin lesions are not malignant. If the skin tags, moles, and warts changed in color and size dramatically, schedule an appointment with your doctor. This is the very first sign that indicates malignant skin lesions. If anything goes wrong with the above home methods, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor as well.

Safety is very important and if you have second thoughts in carrying out the home methods, it would be best not to do it anymore and instead, consult a doctor. Aside from the home methods mentioned, there are still other home remedies that you can try like applying certain herbs on the affected area. If after all these home methods the skin tags, moles, and warts are not removed, a visit to the doctor is advised.

Although it can cost you some money, it would help to know that you’re in safe hands. The doctors can guarantee you that the moles, warts, and skin tags will be removed after the procedure. Most of the procedures can be done in a couple of hours and you don’t need to stay overnight at the clinic or hospital.

Removing moles, warts, and skin tags is very easy. In most cases, the skin lesions are harmless and can heal over time. But since the lesions cause cosmetic problems, you need to remove them immediately.

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Moles, Warts, and Skin Tags - Causes of Skin Tags

Skin tags are also called acrochordons, fibroepithelial, papillomas, pedunculated or filoform benign moles. Moles, warts, and skin tags are all skin lesions which can cause a lot of frustration to some individuals. Before you decide to remove them, you need to know about their causes.

The moles, warts, and skin tags are simply hyperplasia or overgrowth of skin. These lesions are prominent as people age. According to some studies, the exact causes of skin lesions are yet unknown but factors like being overweight, pregnant, and insulin fluctuations can make a person prone to skin lesions.

The skin tags are mostly found in the upper chest, eyelid area, and groin. In some cases, you can also find skin tags on the hands, knees, feet, face, and even genital areas. You can never really tell if you’re going to develop skin tags and on what part of the body.

Since there are no known causes, you have to watch out for skin lesions. Skin tags usually appear like bumps on the skin and later on, a stalk will be attached to it. The best way to get rid of the skin tags is to snip or cut it off at first sight. Don’t wait for the skin tags to grow bigger. Once the skin tags get bigger, it will be more painful to remove. If you think snipping or cutting the skin tag is painful, you can purchase freezing kits. The kits are widely available in stores and they are quite affordable. Freezing the skin tags off is painless and the skin lesions will be removed immediately as long as you follow the procedures carefully.

Did you know that skin tags can grow as large as a golf ball? That’s true so if you don’t want to be embarrassed because of these unwanted skin lesions, you need to know as much information about them as possible.

Obesity, pregnancy, and insulin fluctuations can cause skin tags. During pregnancy, hormonal changes take place inside the body and skin tags can appear. Some say that skin tags can be transmitted genetically; if some of our family members have skin tags, then you might also have them when you grow older.

Skin tags are harmless and it doesn’t pose any health problem. Some skin tags can be annoying especially when the skin tags are located on the eyelids, neck, and face.

If you have skin tags and you’re uncomfortable to have them, it’s time to get rid of them. Now that you know some probable causes, perhaps you might consider weight loss. People who are overweight are prone to skin tags so you’d better start with a weight loss program. Pregnant women who develop skin tags should not be worried because the skin tags might disappear as soon as they give birth and their hormonal activities are back to normal. It really helps a lot to understand how skin tags and other skin lesions develop; that way, you can easily decide whether you will remove them or just ignore them.

For those who want to remove the skin tags, you need to consult a doctor especially if the skin tags change in color or size because this can indicate a cancerous skin tag. Before using any over the counter ointment, cream, or any other product, it’s always wise to seek medical help.

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Moles, Warts, and Skin Tags: Vaginal Skin Tags

No one is comfortable discussing vaginal skin tags, especially at social gatherings. This may also be the reason why some individuals suffering from vaginal skin tags hesitate to consult their doctors about their problem.

What are vaginal skin tags? These are benign skin outgrowths which are non cancerous. To put it simply, vaginal skin tags are not dangerous. There is no need to remove them but since the skin tags are unpleasant to look at, most women who have them are quite problematic because they want to get rid of the vaginal skin tags. The skin tags are bothersome but by visiting your gynecologist, you can have them removed in one sitting. You don’t have to spend several days in the clinic or hospital because in a couple of hours, you can already return home. Local anesthetic may be enough although in some cases general anesthetic is employed. The gynecologist will be the one to decide which anesthetic to use. 

Since vaginal skin tags are located in a very sensitive area, some women decide not to remove it. They don’t want to consult doctors about their condition because they are embarrassed about it. However, you need to check on the skin tags every now and then. Even the skin tags change in size and became larger, you have to see a doctor immediately because you might have cancerous skin tags; practice observation so that there’ll be no surprises in the future.

Have you ever taken a good look at the vaginal skin tags? If you’re observant, you will notice that the skin tags are likely to swell during menstruation periods; the evident reason is because of the hormonal changes during this stage. But don’t worry because the skin tags won’t burst. After the menstruation period, the skin tags will shrink again.

Occasionally, skin tags aren’t painful but when it is twisted, it becomes tender and a bit painful. For instance, when the skin tag snags on your underwear or it rubs against adjoining skin, you will feel pain. If the pain happens almost all the time, perhaps it’s a good idea to remove the skin tags. You will need to prepare your own money because even if you have insurance, cosmetic surgery is not covered. You will need to pay the whole bill from your own pockets. Cosmetic surgery is a bit expensive but if it’s for your comfort, you will not hesitate to remove the vaginal skin tags.

Skin tags can be snipped or cut off but since the skin lesions are located in a very sensitive area, you won’t be able to cut it off. You will need expert help from your gynecologist or your doctor. If the vaginal skin tags are giving you too much discomfort and pain, you must decide now and have them removed. Again, remember to prepare a huge amount because it can be quite costly.

Vaginal skin tags can’t be seen but most women who have them want them removed at once. In today’s times, you don’t have to be embarrassed about it; besides, only your doctor and you know the secret. Contact your doctor or gynecologist now and decide which method to use. No one will know that you previously had skin tags in the vaginal area, even your partner. Schedule an appointment with your doctor now.

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Top 5 Facts About Skin Tags

Skin tags are very common skin lesions and are basically a small part of the skin that hangs from the surrounding area. They are benign lesions, so are non cancerous and rarely cause any damage, problems or discomfort. However, the most common places for skin tags are around the neck, eyelids, armpits and upper chest. Because of this you may find that your clothes rub against them regularly, and in some cases this may cause some pain and an inflammation of the area. This is still nothing to worry about but you may want to consider having skin tags removed if this is the case. They are more common in women than men and middle aged people than young people but anyone can get them.

1. A skin tag is purely skin. There is an overlap of outer skin that encases an inner layer of skin. For this reason they are rarely harmful and any paid or discomfort from skin tags is usually because they have been rubbed or irritated regularly.

2. It is most common to find skin tags around the neck, upper chest, shoulders, armpits, eyelids and the groin. Wearing a collar or walking can skin tags that are in the wrong place and this is why most people consider removal. The removal is a very simple procedure that in some cases can be completed by your physician.

3. A skin tag can be removed by using liquid nitrogen to freeze it off or through a simple surgical procedure. This procedure will only usually involve a local anesthetic to numb the area around the skin tags although depending on the place and the size of skin tags a general anesthetic may be the preferred option.

4. Skin tags are benign, meaning they are non cancerous. It is very unusual for a biopsy to be performed on skin tags but this may be an option that your physician wants to look at. A biopsy means that a small part (or the whole area) of the skin tags are sent away to the laboratory to be tested.

5. While the operation is painless and very straightforward there is no need to have skin tags removed unless they are getting rubbed or irritated on a regular basis. You should seriously consider whether it is absolutely necessary before requesting a removal.

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