SKIN TAGS: WHY THEY DEVELOP, AND HOW TO REMOVE THEM
Skin tags are harmless growths that can appear anywhere on your skin, but often develop on the neck, eyelids, or underarms. They may be the same color as your skin or darker. Some are pink. Others turn red when irritated. You may see one dangling from a stalk, while another is firmly fixed to the skin.
With all this variation, there is one thing that acrochordons (medical name for skin tags) seem to have in common. Many people want to remove them.
Why am I getting skin tags?
These growths can appear anywhere on the skin, but they usually develop where skin has been rubbing against skin, jewelry, or clothing for some time. That’s why they usually occur in one or more of these areas:
Breasts (beneath)
Eyelids
Groin
Neck creases (or where clothing or jewelry rubs against the neck)
Underarms
Skin tags are also commonly found on the sides, abdomen, or back.
Because they develop where skin rubs against skin, people who are overweight, pregnant, or have loose skin are more likely to get skin tags.
You also have a higher risk of developing skin tags if you have diabetes, metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, unhealthy blood sugar levels, extra fat around your waist, or unhealthy cholesterol levels), or a blood relative has skin tags.
It’s important to keep in mind that these growths are harmless.
How to remove skin tags?
We use ELECTRODESSICATION method to remove the skin tags. It can quickly and safely remove one or more skin tags during an office visit, and usually without the need for a follow-up appointment.
Electrodessication utilizes a special electrosurgical instrument that is used to quickly and safely remove skin tags and certain types of benign skin growths on the face, neck, and body. Your provider uses a tiny needle to zap the skin tag, which destroys it. You’ll develop a scab on the treated skin that will heal in one to three weeks.
What is the procedure?
Before the treatment, the technician will clean the treatment area and put on numbing cream,after approximately 20-30 minutes, numbing cream will be removed and the treatment area will be cleansed with water and 75% alcohol prep pads.
During the treatment, your provider uses a tiny needle to zap the skin tag, which destroys it. Some discomfort may be experienced .
What to expect after the treatment?
Wound Healing: After the procedure, there may be swelling, blistering,crusting, or faking of the treated area(s), which may require one to three weeks to heal. Once the surface has healed, it may be pink or sensitive to the sun for an additional two to four weeks, or longer in some patients.
Itch: You may feel itchy around the treated area, it is because of the new skin growth.
Scab: The skin will create a scab which remains on the skin for 1-2 weeks until the skin has healed. There might be slight discoloration of the skin after the scab falls off. This will take a few weeks to a few months to fully heal to your normal skin tone
Infection: There is a risk of infection after any medical procedure is performed. Please be sure to follow the technician’s home care suggestions. If at any time you are unsure of what is an infection or healing process, please do not hesitate to call us.
Pigmentation Changes (skin color): During the healing process,there is a slight possibility that the treated area can become either lighter or darker in color compared to the surrounding skin, This is usually temporary, but , on a rare occasion, may be permanent.
Scarring: Please note: No one can guarantee a"scarless" procedure. The procedure will be performed in a way meant to minimize the visibility of scarring.The scar will initially be red and raised but usually reduces in color and size over several months. The healing process can take between 3 months to 1 year. Some people have an abnormal response to skin healing and these people may get larger scars than usual (keloid or hypertrophic). To minimize the chances of scarring, it is important that you follow all post treatment instructions carefully.
Can skin tags come back after treatment? If we remove the entire skin tag, it’s not likely to grow back. But it’s possible to develop new ones. Depending on health,age and skin tone factors. If there is any regrowth in the same spot within the following few months, you may have to come in and get it removed again.
Post treatment instructions:
Touch the treated area as little as possible
Avoid contact with water for at least 24 hours until scabs form.
Apply the aftercare balm for the treated area three times a day or as necessary.
Avoid sun exposure
After the treated area is scabbed ,put SPF30+ sunscreen everyday.
Do not pick the scab with your hands, let it fall off by itself，after it falls off, put sunscreen everyday.
