Skin tags, also known as acrochordon, are small patches of on the body which look like a small tag of skin hanging from a thread. They are generally not painful, unless they are rubbing against clothing or other body parts, and are in no way dangerous, signs that cancerous changes may be taking place, or infectious. Many people though consider their skin tags to be unsightly and ugly, and many wish to have them removed. There are many different ways of going about this, from using natural remedy products which are effective skin tag removers, to going down the more medical route and taking a surgical approach.
For people looking for a quick method, almost providing instant results, the surgical route is the one to choose. Although it involves making an appointment to see a doctor for an initial consultation, then returning at a later date to have the skin tags taken off, the actual procedure only takes a few minutes and generally does not require the use of any anesthetic meaning you are free to leave hospital and go home almost immediately.
In the simplest of the procedures, the surgeon will take a pair of sterile scissors or a scalpel and detach the skin tag from the body at the point where the connection is narrowest. It takes a few seconds, if that, and as the cut to the skin is so tiny, pain relief is usually not required. There are few side effects involved in these types of removal, the only ones being possible bleeding at the site of the skin tag and scarring, should the tag not be removed easily.
A surgeon may also choose to freeze the skin tags off using liquid nitrogen. It is important that this is done with precision as the very cold gas can damage healthy skin as well as the skin tags. It is very quick, simple and painless but this process can only be carried out by a trained professional. There is also the drawback that the procedure may cost money, and you will have the inconvenience and time considerations of taking a couple of hours out of your day to travel to hospital for the procedure.
There are several natural or household items which work well as home skin tag removers. The first of these methods is to mix up a sticky paste of baking powder and castor oil. The mixture should then be applied to the skin tags and then covered with a small band aid or a piece of bandage two or three times a day for several weeks, after which the skin tag will dry up and drop off. The benefits of trying this method to remove skin tags are that the ingredients are simple, cheap and easy to come by, and there are no side effects from trying this way. It is always worth trying one of the natural methods before proceeding down the surgical route should removing the skin tags not be a matter of urgency. Although it will take longer, it will also save you considerable sums of money.
Tea tree oil is also used in removing skin tags. It is dabbed on to the tag a few times a day and has a similar effect to the castor oil in that it makes the tags dry up and fall away from the skin. Tea tree oil also works as a natural antiseptic and may help the skin stay healthy while the tag is being treated and prevent any infection occurring.
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