Skin Tag Removal in London & UK

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Over half of the population is believed to suffer from skin tags at some point in their life.  Skin tags can appear for a number of reasons but their direct cause is not completely known.  Medically known as acrochordon, skin tags are small skin growths that can vary in size, shape and location, normally growing to the size of a grain of rice.  Although anyone can develop a skin tag, they are more common among older people and especially women, those above 50 and are most common under the arms, in the groin area, on the chest or around your face.  Obviously the location of your skin tag will affect your feelings about it, with people often wishing to have them removed.  Those who have them on the face, neck or chest often wish to have them removed for cosmetic reasons, believing them to be unsightly or very visible.  Skin tags in other areas can also cause problems, although they are more likely to be hidden from sight.  Depending on the position of the skin tag they can cause irritation or chafing from clothing, which might be very sore and a cause for you to have them removed. 

Skin tags are normally completely harmless, and once developed will simply remain as they are.  Skin tags are almost always benign, and can appear either as the same colour as your skin, or a slightly darker shade.  They take a while to develop, starting off as a small lump and eventually growing in size.  They will stop growing after a while, but some skin tags have reached up to 5cms in size.  Skin tags can either be smooth or have an uneven surface, and their shape is not always regular. If you have one skin tag, another is unlikely to take on the same appearance. 

Removing skin tags can be done at home using a small amount of cotton or dental floss, or at your doctor’s surgery or a cosmetic clinic.  It is important that you ensure that what you have is definitely a skin tag, as sometimes they can appear very similar to warts and will need to be treated differently to ensure they don’t return.  Skin tags can be frozen off, cauterised or cut off with a good effect, and normally they will not grow back.  Larger skin tags ought to be removed by your GP, as complications could arise that you wouldn’t be able to control.  There are some herbal treatments that you can try to remove your skin tag, although their results do vary.

Skin tags, if left alone, pose little threat, and many people leave their skin tags and live with them.  They do not continue to grow once developed, and will cause no pain or discomfort if they are not irritated, for example by rubbing on clothing or jewelry.  If you are concerned about your skin tag, or it starts to look a different colour or is painful then you ought to seek medical advice. 

What do Skin Tags Look Like?

A skin tag is a skin condition, not dissimilar from a mole, a generally a harmless development that will not need much attention.  They can grow quite large, and can be either the same shade as your skin, or a slightly darker colour.  Skin tags vary in shape and size, some reaching up to 5cms in length.  A typical skin tag would be around the size of a grain of rice.  They look like a flap of skin, connected to your body by a thin stalk.  Unlike moles they are not much darker in appearance, however they can grow larger than a mole, and can appear irregular in shape.  Some people might not even notice their skin tags, however for some they can cause great concern and a loss of confidence.  Skin tags can grown on the face and neck, and people who suffer from skin tags in these areas often wish to have them removed. 

Skin tags are always larger in size at the top than they are at their base.  They do not have a uniform shape, and can be wrinkled or smooth.  Skin tags often grow in groups, making up clusters in problematic areas, but often you might find that you have one on its own.  Sometimes skin tags do look very similar to warts, and if you have any concerns it is best to talk to your GP who will be able to determine what the problem is and whether it is harmful or not. 

Difference Between Skin Tags & Moles »