
Disclaimer: Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Almost 50% of people in Cincinnati and around the world will get a skin tag at some time in their life. Adults have a higher risk of contracting them, but toddlers can acquire them too. Skin tags can appear on people of any age, size, or sex, and obesity can play a role in their growth. Although most individuals may safely ignore skin tags, there are times when consulting a dermatologist in Cincinnati, Ohio could be a good idea. It might be for purely aesthetic reasons or it could be because of a potentially life-threatening medical issue.
Skin tags are categorized as small, loose flaps of skin. They frequently take the form and look of small, balloons that have been deflated. A skin tag may appear to be little more than a small bump on the skin’s surface when it is first noticed. They seldom exceed the size of a grape, but may reach proportions greater than a pencil eraser.
Pimples, moles, and accessory tagus are all congenital defects, whereas skin tags aren’t.
Skin tags can appear almost anywhere on the body, but the following are the most common locations:
Skin tags tend to form in areas where skin frequently comes into contact with fabric. The area around the skin tag may become inflamed and painful if you persist in scratching at it. The issue of aesthetics must also be considered. It’s normal to feel self-conscious about a new skin feature, especially if that feature is prominent, like a skin tag on your face.
Eyelid skin tags should be removed if they become a visual distraction. Precancerous or cancerous changes in skin tags are extremely uncommon. See a dermatologist in Cincinnati ASAP if your skin tag bleeds or changes color from the usual skin tone (white to red, brown to pink, or black).
Skin tag removal at Moksha Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, may involve cauterization, cryosurgery, or excision. Because of risk of infection, it is advised not to try to remove skin tags yourself. Having a skin tag removed by a dermatologist is a quick and simple procedure that carries minimal risk. The methods consist of:
Skin tags can be removed by cauterization. Your Cincinnati dermatologist will use an antiseptic solution to prep the skin for the operation. The next step is to apply a local anesthetic to the region to be treated. Our dermatologist use electrical current to warm a needle, which is then placed at the skin tag’s base until the tag falls off. The cauterized area is covered with a bandage at the end. Skin tag cauterization takes just around 20 minutes, depending on the amount of your skin tags. Like with any surgical operation, there is a minor risk of scarring or infection, and you may have some lasting pain after the anesthesia wears off. However, the time needed to recuperate is short, and most people have no long-term consequences.
A dermatologist can remove a skin tag by freezing it using cryosurgery. When more than one skin tag needs to be removed, this technique may be useful since a single tool may be used for many lesions. Your dermatologist in Cincinnati will dip a device into liquid nitrogen and hold it on the skin tag’s base for several seconds in order to freeze it off. You’re probably not in too much pain, as it’s about as unpleasant as holding an ice cube on your skin. After the surgery, you probably won’t even need to bandage the area. This is why cryosurgery is frequently used as a primary method of removal for skin tags on the face and eyelids. Cryosurgery, much like cauterization, is a short process that shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes at most. Little dangers and downtime are associated with this operation, however it may take up to two weeks for the frozen skin tag to come off.
Skin tags can be removed surgically through a method called excision. If your skin tags are particularly large, your dermatologist in Cincinnati may recommend this method. Although this procedure is a bit more involved than cryosurgery, skin tags are promptly removed. This is technically a surgical operation, although it can usually be completed in your dermatologist’s clinic as an outpatient procedure. Local anesthetic, either injected under the skin or administered topically, efficiently numbs the excision site before it is treated with antiseptic. Your dermatologist will remove the skin tag using a knife. Stitches may be required to seal the incision if the skin tag is particularly big, but a sterile bandage is typically sufficient. In less than thirty minutes, a skin tag can be surgically removed.
The risk of infection following any surgical treatment can be minimized by keeping the incision area clean and dry. Your dermatologist will provide you with specific post-operative care recommendations for the incision area. Once the effects of the anesthetic wear off, you may feel some discomfort, but this is usually treatable with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you need greater pain medication, your dermatologist can prescribe it.
Depending on the individual, you may find that your post-procedure routine is unaffected by the removal of skin tags. Your doctor may advise you to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for a few days after having a skin tag removed. The day after surgery is often considered safe for patients to return to work and resume their daily activities. See your dermatologist about whether it is safe for you to drive after taking prescribed pain medication.
Regardless of why you’re trying to remove your skin tags, Moksha Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio has the skills and experience to conduct the treatment safely and with little discomfort and adverse effects. Call Moksha Dermatology today if you have any inquiries regarding skin tags or skin tag removal.