Skin tags are not dangerous. A skin tag is an overgrowth of the top layer of skin or the epidermis. During adolescence, our skin is perfectly balanced – the epidermis and the underlying dermis grow at the same rate, so there is no skin redundancy. However, as we continue to age, the upper layer of skin (epidermis) starts growing faster than underlying layers (dermis), causing skin tags to form.
Skin tags are most commonly found in areas of friction, such as the groin or armpit area. Friction isn’t the only contributing factor, however; your genetic makeup plays a large role in whether a person will develop skin tags.
When it comes to the removal of skin tags, we recommend not trying it at home. We’ve heard crazy DIY stories of patients wrapping dental floss around the base of a skin tag. This method HURTS and can lead to infection, but sometimes works by cutting off blood supply to the tag. Come see us instead – we’ll remove your tags in a safe and sterile environment. The procedure starts with numbing the area with a small needle or numbing cream. Then we simply snip them off with a sharp surgical-grade “gradle” scissors. Quick n’ painless!
