Remove a Skin Tag from Your Neck

Skin tags, also known as acrochordons, are unsightly growths which commonly appear on the neck, along with other areas of the body. They are completely harmless, so there is no medical necessity to have them removed. However, skin tags on the neck are extremely visible, and may get caught in clothing or jewelry and become irritated, so it is natural to want to get rid of them. There are several ways to get rid of skin tags, both at home and at the doctor's office. This article will walk you through each of them.

Steps

Using Medically-Approved Treatments

  1. Have the skin tag surgically removed. Probably the easiest way to get rid of a skin tag is to ask your doctor to remove it. This can be done quickly, right in the doctor's office. The doctor will first clean around the tag with some alcohol, then use a sterilized scissors or scalpel to snip it away.
    • Small tags will be removed without an anesthetic, and will be no more painful than a mosquito bite. If you have a large tag or multiple tags in the same area, the doctor may apply a numbing cream or use a local anesthetic before removing.
    • The skin tag may bleed a little at first, but will usually heal within 24 hours.[1]
  2. Get the skin tag cauterized. A very effective method for removing skin tags is to have them burned off with an electric cautery at the doctor's office. This will cause the skin tag to turn black and fall off almost immediately.
    • Unfortunately, most health insurance providers consider skin tag removal to be a cosmetic procedure, so you will need to cover the cost of this treatment yourself.
    • The exception is suspicious looking or symptomatic skin tags, which may be covered under your health care policy.[2]
  3. Have the skin tag frozen off. Using a similar method to cauterization, you can also have skin tags frozen off with liquid nitrogen in a procedure known as cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is also used in the treatment of other undesirable skin conditions, such as warts and moles.
    • Cryotherapy treatment is also considered a cosmetic procedure and will not be covered under most insurance policies.
    • Cryotherapy may leave a slight discoloration on the skin after the tag has been removed, but this should fade over time.[3]
  4. Leave the skin tag alone. Keep in mind that skin tags are completely harmless and it is not necessary to remove them for health reasons. If the skin tag on your neck is small and not causing you any irritation, you should consider simply leaving it alone.[3]

Using Sterilized Scissors

  1. Sterilize your scissors. The first thing you need to do is sterilize the scissors you will be using to snip off the skin tag. You can do this using a few different methods. The most thorough way is to use an autoclave (sterilization device) but you may not have one readily available and they can be expensive to buy.
    • Cheaper alternatives include thoroughly cleaning the scissors with some rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball, or boiling the scissors in a pot of water for ten minutes .
    • Wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap and carefully place the sterilized scissors on a clean towel and leave to dry. Avoid touching the sterilized blade from this point on.
  2. Pinch it with a tweezers and pull taut. This will extend the skin tag and give you more space to get the scissors as close to the base of the tag as possible. Before you do this, you can numb the area with a little ice to minimize pain, however removing the skin tag is no more painful than a pinch, so this is probably unnecessary.
  3. Take your sterilized scissors and snip off the skin tag. Position the scissors slowly and carefully to ensure that you will snip the skin tag as close to the base as possible, without cutting the surrounding skin. Once you are in position, snip quickly to minimize pain. It should feel like a quick pinch.
    • Instead of using a sterilized scissors, it is possible to used a nail clippers to remove the skin tag instead. The nail clippers may be easier to use if the skin tag is on the back of your neck, or anywhere hard to reach.
    • Just be sure to sterilize the nail clippers using one of the methods outlined above before using.
  4. Clean the wound and cover with a band-aid. The base of the skin tag will probably bleed a little after cutting, but this is normal. Take care to disinfect the area before covering, as the last thing you want is to develop an infection. Use a little rubbing alcohol or iodine on a cotton ball to do this.
    • Cover the area with a skin-colored band-aid and allow the skin tag at least 24 hours to heal.
    • If any signs of infection should develop, such as swelling, tenderness, redness or oozing around the wound, consult your doctor immediately.

Using Ligation

  1. Get some suturing thread or dental floss. The ligation method involves tying a piece of thread around the base of the skin tag, cutting off circulation and causing it to die and fall off. [4]
    • Any piece of thin string will do, but suturing thread and dental floss are two common options. Other options include fine fishing line, or even small rubber bands.
    • This is a good option for people who are squeamish about cutting the tag themselves or reluctant to pay for treatments at the doctor's. There is no blood and it is completely painless.
  2. Tie the string around the base of the skin tag. This is the tricky part, especially when the skin tag is on your neck. If you opt to do it yourself with the aid of a mirror, you may be able to lasso the tag by carefully placing the loop of a slipknot over it. Pull to secure, ensuring it's tight enough to cut off the blood supply.
    • This may take some practice and persistence as the loop tends to slide of the skin tag as you pull the knot tight. If this is the case, your best option may be to enlist the help of a friend.
  3. Leave the string in place for a couple of days. Leave the string tied around the skin tag, tightening it if necessary. As the skin tag's blood supply is cut off, the tag will dry out and soon fall off.
    • Be aware that the size of the skin tag, and how well you tie it off, may affect how quickly it drops off.
    • When it falls off, the skin beneath will already have healed, so there will be no need for disinfection or bandages.
  4. Avoid irritation. If your tied off skin tag is visible or easily chafed by your clothing, you may wish to cover it with a small bandage while waiting for it drop off. Chafing may cause irritation, redness or inflammation in the skin immediately around the skin tag.
    • By preventing further chafing and irritation, the redness and inflammation will subside relatively quickly.

Using Unverified Home Remedies

  1. Use clear nail polish. A common home remedy for removing skin tags is to cover the skin tag in a coat of clear nail polish, as this is believed to dry out the skin tag, causing it to fall off.
    • Simply cover the skin tag in a coat of clear polish and allow to dry. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times a day until it shrinks and falls off.[4]
    • You can speed the process up slightly by wiggling the tag every day.
  2. Try apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is reputed to be a very effective remedy for skin tags. Dip a cotton ball or q-tip in the vinegar and apply it to the skin tag. It may sting a little.
    • Repeat this process once or twice a day until the skin tag turns dark and falls off. This could take anywhere from two to four weeks.[5]
    • Be careful not to get vinegar on the surrounding skin, as it may burn.
  3. Apply tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has been used to successfully treat many different skin conditions, skin tags among them. To use, soak a cotton ball in water then add a couple of drops of therapeutic grade tea tree essential oil.
    • Dab the skin tag with the tea-tree infused cotton ball.
    • Repeat once or twice a day until the skin tag dries up and falls off.
  4. Use over-the-counter creams. There are many over-the-counter creams on the market which claim to get rid of skin tags. Some people find them very effective, while others do not. Follow instructions on the label for how to use.
    • Particular brands which are said to work well include Tag Away, Skinhale and Dermatend.
  5. Try lemon juice. The citric acid in lemon juice can lighten and dry out the skin, and has been cited as an effective remedy for skin tags. Simply squeeze a little fresh lemon juice into a container, dip a q-tip into it and dab onto the skin tag.
    • Alternatively, you can cut a slice of lemon and rub it directly onto the skin tag.
    • Keep applying the lemon juice every day, taking care to avoid the surrounding skin, until the skin tag dries out and falls out.
  6. Apply vitamin E oil. Applying vitamin E oil in combination with a band-aid is said to help in the removal of skin tags. The band-aid limits blood flow to the skin tag, while the vitamin E oil speeds up the healing.
    • To use, break open a vitamin E capsule and rub the contents onto the skin take. Cover tightly with a band-aid.
    • Leave on for a day or two, then remove the band-aid, clean the area and repeat. Keep repeating until the skin tag falls off.
  7. Cover the skin tag with duct tape. Duct tape is often used in mole removal, and the same method can be used in the removal of skin tags. Stick a patch of duct tape over the skin tag and leave it in place until it begins to loosen.[6]
    • Pull off the tape and check to see whether the skin tag has come away with it.
    • If it hasn't, repeat the process until the skin tag comes off.

Tips

  • Sometimes skin tags will come off accidentally when you shave over them. Don't worry if this happens, it may bleed slightly but it is not dangerous.[7]
  • Visit a doctor for more medically correct and safe information and methods.

Warnings

  • Don't do any of these things without first consulting your doctor. It is important to make sure the skin tags are not other potentially more dangerous skin conditions.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.oprah.com/style/Causes-of-Skin-Tags-How-to-Remove-Skin-Tags
  2. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/page6.htm
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/page5.htm#how_are_skin_tags_treated
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/expert.q.a/06/28/skin.tags.shu/
  5. ↑ http://www.homeremedyhaven.com/remedies/skin-tags.html
  6. ↑ http://www.myhealthtips.in/2013/06/best-home-remedies-to-remove-skin-tags.html
  7. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/page6.htm#should_i_worry_about_cutting_my_skin_tag_by_shaving

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