Skin Tag Removal

Skin tags are small, soft growths of skin that often appear on the neck, underarms, eyelids, and other areas where skin rubs together. They are almost always harmless, but they can catch on clothing and jewelry, become irritated, or simply bother you. The good news: removing a skin tag is one of the quickest procedures we perform, and most patients are in and out in a single short visit.

What Are Skin Tags? (Acrochordons)

A skin tag, known clinically as an acrochordon, is a benign growth made of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels surrounded by skin. They are extremely common. About half of adults have at least one, and they become more frequent with age, friction, and certain conditions. Skin tags are not contagious and are not a form of skin cancer.

Should a Skin Tag Be Removed?

Skin tags do not need to be removed for medical reasons in most cases. Patients choose removal when a tag is irritated by clothing or shaving, bleeds or twists, sits somewhere visible like the eyelid or neck, or has changed in appearance. Any growth that changes color, grows quickly, or bleeds without irritation should be examined by a dermatologist to rule out something more serious. This is also what we check at every skin cancer screening.

How We Remove Skin Tags

Removal is quick and performed in-office. Depending on the size and location, your provider may use:

• Snip excision: the tag is numbed and removed with sterile surgical scissors
• Cryotherapy: the tag is frozen with liquid nitrogen and falls off within days
• Electrocautery: the tag is removed with a precise electric current that also seals the skin

Most removals take a few minutes. You can drive yourself home and return to normal activity immediately.

Skin Tag Removal vs. Mole Removal

Skin tags and moles are different growths and are treated differently. If you are not sure which you have, that is exactly what an appointment is for. Our providers will identify the growth and check it as part of a full skin exam. [Link: Moles & Growths page]

Frequently Asked Questions

Does skin tag removal hurt? The area is numbed first for snip and cautery removal; most patients describe cryotherapy as a brief sting.

Will insurance cover it? Removal for irritation or bleeding may be covered; purely cosmetic removal usually is not. Our staff can help you check.

Will the skin tag grow back? A removed tag does not grow back, though new tags can form in the same area over time.

Can I remove a skin tag at home? We recommend against it. Home removal risks infection, scarring, and misdiagnosing a growth that needed a professional look.

Skin Tag Removal in Brunswick and Strongsville

Trillium Creek Dermatology offers skin tag removal at our offices in Brunswick, Strongsville, Medina, Wadsworth, and Wooster. Schedule online or call 330.725.0569.