The majority of skin tags are harmless pieces of skin that do not require any treatment. Most people prefer to remove them because of cosmetic reasons. Removing the skin tag will leave the skin smooth and once again attractive but there are some other reasons that might warrant skin tag removal. Here are some of those reasons:
- Pain or irritation may develop if the tag rubs against clothing or other skin or jewelry items.
- When the color of the skin tag changes or if there is a change in the shape of the tag. This could indicate a possible health risk.
These are a couple of reasons that people want their skin tags permanently removed. There are different methods used to remove the skin tags and it is usually the patient’s choice which method they prefer. Once removed the skin tags do not grow back however, it is possible for others to develop.
Cryotherapy
Probably the most popular way to remove skin tags is with cryotherapy. This is a technique which freezes the tags with liquid nitrogen and kills the cells so that the tag will fall off. This procedure is usually performed in a physician’s office. If a person’s tolerance for pain is very low the physician may choose to use a local anesthetic to the area before removal. If the skin tag is very large this procedure may need to be repeated a couple of times meaning the patient will have to make additional trips to the doctor’s office.
Cauterizing
Cauterization is another method that is similar to cryotherapy except heat is used instead of freezing. The heat destroys the cells and then the tag can be removed with scissors. Usually a local anesthetic is applied before the cautery is used. One advantage of this type of treatment is that it prevents the loss of blood and the area recovers quickly.
Ligation
Ligation is another popular method of removing skin tags. Ligation works by cutting off the blood supply of the tag with a string. This results in the tag shrinking and eventually falling off. This type of treatment does not cause any damage to the surrounding skin and usually is accompanied by minimal pain.
Costs of Skin Tag Treatment
The cost of skin tag removal will vary since there are a number of factors to consider. The size of the tag and the type of removal will determine how much it will cost, however the average treatment is about $150. It is important to remember that skin tag removal is usually not covered by medical insurance since most skin tags are considered to be cosmetic deformities. Before seeking treatment you should check with your insurance company to see what their policy is concerning skin tag removal. |
