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Are Skin Tags Dangerous?

Skin tags are little more than small flaps of skin that attach themselves to the body by a stalk. They may not look nice, but are skin tags dangerous? The simple answer to that question is that they don’t pose any danger to you what-so-ever. They’re a benign tumor, so they’re not a sign of cancer.

The problem is that people sometimes to develop them when they show diabetes symptoms or are overweight. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it’s the underlying health condition that poses more of a threat to your longevity than the actual skin tag. You just need to identify them correctly.

Of course, many people develop skin tags due to their genetics, hormonal changes (such as pregnancy), the aging process, or because skin continually rubs against skin. There is no conclusive medical evidence as to why they develop, but it’s believed that these are the likely reasons why people get them.

Are Skin Tags Dangerous or Just a Cosmetic Problem?

Many people develop 1 or more skin tags over the course of their lifetime. Unfortunately, some individuals go on to develop multiple skin tags. The most common places to find them are in the skin folds, hence the reason why they’re located on and around the eyes, in the armpit area, and the neck. Many people also believe that skin tags form due to shaving your face or bikini zone.

They are unsightly, especially when several of them develop nearby and they show in a highly visible area, but they aren’t going to do you any harm. They’re relatively easy to identify because they’re usually small (although some do grow quite large), soft, and are attached to you by a thin stalk. They’re distinctive.

If you’re unsure whether you have a skin tag or another dermatological problem, we recommend that you consult a medical practitioner. You may also need to seek medical advice if they become irritated or infected. This can happen if you keep touching them, or if they get caught on jewelry or clothing.

Should Skin Tags Be Removed by a Doctor?

The problem is that getting skin tags treated by a doctor is relatively expensive and it isn’t covered by health insurance policies unless you have been unfortunate enough to get an infection. You should expect to pay $100 to $150 to have each skin tag expertly removed by a medical practitioner. That’s why many people prefer a good over-the-counter skin tag removal treatment.

Much depends on your budget and where the skin tag is located. For example, you may wish to turn to an expert if it is found on your testicles or buttocks. It isn’t always necessary, but you do have to be more careful when you have them on sensitive parts of your body.

Methods that doctors use to remove skin tags include ligation (tying them off with string), cutting them off, and freezing them. They all work well, but there are at-home alternatives that are just as effective and a lot cheaper. All you have to do is diligently follow the instructions.

How Can I Get Rid of Skin Tags at Home?

How you should go about removing skin tags will depend on where it/they are located, not to mention their size. We’ve found what we believe are the most effective treatments, and they’re suitable for just about any personal budget. You don’t need to pay $150 to get rid of a skin tag!

1. Ligation

One of our favorite ways for getting rid of skin tags is the TagBand. If you like the idea of ligation, but want to avoid infection, this is the latest way of achieving your goal. You’ll use the small cone to place the band around the skin tag (it’s incredibly easy!), and it’ll stay in place until it turns black, dies and falls off. Most people get the results that they need in just one week.

2. Cutting Off

If you don’t mind pain, you can to cut off a skin tag with a clean scalpel. You’ll need to thoroughly wash and sterilize the area before using a scalpel to remove it. You should expect it to bleed, so be prepared for this to happen once the procedure has completed. Despite the fact that it’s free (something we do like!), we don’t recommend this approach due to scarring and the risk of infection. Leave it to the doctors.

Are Skin Tags Dangerous?

3. Freezing

Doctors freeze of a skin tag with liquid nitrogen, but you can do the same thing at home with Compound W Freeze. Freezing the area prevents it from oxygenating itself, so it cannot survive. It’s a treatment that is commonly used for warts, but you shouldn’t be fooled by the name of the OTC product. People are getting excellent results with this product, and it just requires several applications for it to work for you.

4. Tea Tree Oil

Using Australian tea tree oil to remove skin tags is both safe and effective. You should consider applying tea tree oil for skin tags at morning afternoon and before bedtime if you want a 100% natural way to get rid of them in approximately 4 to 5 weeks. It works by drying out the area, thus depriving it of blood and oxygen. Without a regular flow of oxygenated blood, it cannot survive. It will change color, die, and eventually fall off. It’s not necessarily the fastest treatment for skin tags, but it’s the safest. It’s an affordable option that’s very unlikely to cause you any harm.

Are skin tags dangerous? They pose no risk to your health, but they are an unpleasant aesthetic problem for a lot of people, especially if they show on a highly visible part of the body. The main danger comes from the way that you choose to remove them from your face or body. While all of the above methods are effective, we don’t recommend cutting them off. Your priority should always be safety over the speed that they work.

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