Skin tags are small, benign growths that appear on the skin’s surface, often in areas prone to friction. Many adults develop at least one over the course of their lifetime, and while they are usually harmless, many people opt for professional skin tag removal as part of their medical dermatology care, for comfort, to prevent irritation from clothing or jewelry, or for cosmetic reasons.
At Suncoast Skin Solutions, we have board-certified dermatologists who can safely remove skin tags in-office at more than 40 locations across Florida. If you’re looking for skin tag removal near you, find your closest location and book an appointment online.
What Is a Skin Tag?
A skin tag, also known as an acrochordon, is a small, soft growth of skin that typically hangs from a thin stalk. Skin tags are flesh-colored or slightly darker, painless, and non-contagious. They are not cancerous and do not become cancerous on their own.
Skin tags most often appear in areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarms, eyelids, under the breasts, and the groin folds. They vary in size from a few millimeters to about a centimeter and may be smooth or slightly wrinkled.
What Causes Skin Tags?
The exact mechanism behind skin tag formation is not fully understood, but we know of several contributing factors, such as:
- Friction from skin rubbing against skin or clothing
- Age
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes, including those that occur during pregnancy
- Insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic factors
Skin tags are almost always benign, but because other growths, including certain skin cancers, can resemble a skin tag, a dermatologist should confirm that a growth is actually a skin tag before deciding to proceed with removal.
Skin Tag vs. Mole vs. Wart
As said, there are other skin conditions that resemble a skin tag to the untrained eye. Here’s how to tell the difference.
| Skin Tag | Mole | Wart | |
| Appearance | Soft, flesh-colored, hangs from a stalk | Flat or raised; pigmented (tan, brown, or black) | Rough, thick, and often grainy in texture |
| Cause | Friction, age, genetics, metabolic factors | Clustered pigment-producing cells | Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection |
| Contagious? | No | No | Yes, they spread through skin contact |
| Painful? | No | Usually no | Sometimes, especially on the feet |
| Concern level | Low; benign | Monitor for changes (ABCDE rule) | Treat to prevent spread |
Any mole that is changing in size, shape, or color (or that bleeds, itches, or has an irregular border) should be evaluated as soon as possible. Learn more about the different types of skin cancer and ways to examine yourself at home.
How to Remove Skin Tags
Skin tags are best removed by a professional. Luckily, in-office skin tag removal is quick, straightforward, and can be done in a single visit. Your dermatologist will choose which method to use based on the size, number, and location of the tags.
In-Office Removal Methods
- Cryotherapy (freezing): Liquid nitrogen is applied to the skin tag, freezing and destroying the tissue. The tag falls off within days. Cryotherapy is well-suited for smaller tags and requires no incision.
- Cauterization/electrosurgery (burning): A low-level electrical current is used to burn away the skin tag at its base. This method seals the wound simultaneously, reducing bleeding and speeding healing.
- Excision/snip removal: The tag is removed with sterile surgical scissors or a blade. This is a common approach because it is fast, precise, and effective for tags of most sizes. A local anesthetic is applied first.
- Ligation: A small suture or band is tied around the base of the tag to cut off its blood supply. The tag falls away on its own over several days.
Should You Remove Skin Tags at Home?
DIY skin tag removal products, including freezing kits, tie-off devices, and topical skin tag removal creams, are widely sold over the counter. They are not without risk, though. The most common risks of home removal include bleeding, infection, incomplete removal, and scarring. More importantly, home removal skips the diagnostic step. Removing a growth that was never properly evaluated means there is no confirmation that it was actually a benign skin tag. Some growths that resemble skin tags are not skin tags, and treating an undiagnosed lesion at home can delay necessary care.
Professional removal is also the safer choice for any growth near the eyes, for larger tags, for tags that have been bleeding or changing, or for any growth the patient is not certain about.
Skin Tag Removal at Suncoast Skin Solutions
Suncoast Skin Solutions’ board-certified dermatologists remove skin tags safely in-office across more than 40 Florida locations. Most removals are completed in a single visit, with minimal discomfort and little to no downtime.
When you visit us, we’ll first start with an examination. We want to make sure what we are removing is, in fact, a skin tag and not something that warrants a different course of care. From there, your doctor will determine which removal method to use.
Same-day and next-day appointments are available at many Suncoast locations. To schedule a consultation, book an appointment online, or find a location nearest you.
Skin Tag Removal Cost and Insurance
The cost of skin tag removal varies based on the number of tags, their size and location, and the removal method used. Insurance coverage depends on the reason for removal. When skin tags are removed for purely cosmetic reasons, the procedure may be considered elective, and so you would have to pay out of pocket. When deemed medically necessary (for example, because a tag is repeatedly irritated, bleeding, or symptomatic), it may be covered.
Suncoast Skin Solutions accepts most major insurance plans. A consultation is the most reliable way to get an accurate cost estimate for a specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Tag Removal
Yes, board-certified dermatologists remove skin tags safely in the office using freezing, cauterization, or snip removal.
Skin tags form from a combination of friction, age, genetics, hormonal changes, and metabolic factors.
Not usually, no, but on rare occasions, a tag may fall off due to a depleted blood supply.
Cosmetic procedures are usually paid out of pocket. However, the removal of tags that are irritated, bleeding, or symptomatic may be covered. Patients would need to confirm coverage with their carrier.
Most in-office removals cause minimal discomfort. To make our patients comfortable, we use local anesthesia as needed.
It will depend on the number of tags, their size, location, and the method used to remove them. And since some insurance plans do cover this procedure under certain conditions, that’ll also be a factor.
Removing a skin tag at home does carry risks, including bleeding, infection, and scarring. Professional removal is the safer option, especially for tags near the eyes, for larger tags, or for any growth the patient is unsure about.
To be certain, you’ll want to be evaluated by a dermatologist. Any growth that changes in size, shape, or color, bleeds, causes pain, appears atypical, or shows any signs of skin cancer, such as melanoma, should be evaluated before removal to rule out skin cancer.