What are Skin Tags?
Skin tags or acrochordon, are growths of benign skin cells that are typically found on the face and neck. Skin tags are oval or round in appearance and slightly hang off of the skin. They tend to form in areas where the skin has creases, although they can pop up on other areas of the body. Some people are more prone to developing skin tags than others. For example, if your parents or grandparents had skin tags, you are more likely to develop them as well because they are hereditary. In addition, women and elderly people are more likely to have skin tags.
Medical Dermatology Treatment Available
If you notice a skin tag on your skin, there is probably no reason to be alarmed. This is because skin tags are typically benign and do not indicate a cancerous growth. However, you may want to have them removed for aesthetic reasons. You may also find them uncomfortable or irritable because they generally hang off of the skin. You can ask your dermatologist about skin tag removal, but the procedure is generally very low risk and non-invasive. Also, learn about mole removal and treatment for benign warts.
To have a skin tag removed, your dermatologist may be able to simply cut it off with a scalpel. Another alternative for treatment is to have the skin tag frozen off via cryosurgery or burned off via electrosurgery. The treatment that is recommended for you will depend on a variety of factors, such as the total treatment area and whether you have any other skin issues that need to be taken into consideration and addressed.
The procedure does not have an extended duration. The entire treatment should not take more than a few minutes to complete. You may have multiple skin tags removed at the same time. The good news is that the procedure tends to be painless and requires very minimal recovery time. In fact, you can expect the treated area of the skin to completely heal within twenty-four hours.